Agreement on the release of frozen Iranian funds in its final stages - Al Arabiya

Agreement on the release of frozen Iranian funds in its final stagesThe main obstacle relates to the mechanism for disposing of part of the frozen Iranian fundsTrump informed the mediators of his refusal to release funds to Iran before signing the agreementProposal to create a special fund for depositing frozen Iranian funds under discussionAccording to an informed source cited by Al Arabiya on X, talks on the release of frozen Iranian funds are now in their final stages. The source indicated that the remaining dispute concerns the mechanism through which a portion of those assets would be made available to Tehran. The report adds that US President Trump has informed mediators that he opposes releasing funds to Iran before a formal agreement is signed, highlighting Washington's desire to maintain leverage until all terms are finalized.The latest development comes amid ongoing negotiations over a proposed framework agreement that would extend the current ceasefire and establish a pathway toward broader discussions on sanctions relief, regional security, and Iran's nuclear activities. Recent reports suggest that the unfreezing of Iranian assets has become one of the most sensitive issues in the talks, with Tehran seeking substantial upfront economic relief while Washington remains cautious about providing concessions before receiving concrete commitments from Iran.One proposal reportedly under discussion would involve the creation of a special fund into which frozen Iranian assets would be deposited. Such a mechanism could allow funds to be released gradually under international oversight, potentially bridging the gap between US concerns about immediate access to cash and Iranian demands for tangible economic benefits. The concept aligns with broader efforts by mediators to establish safeguards that would make any agreement politically acceptable to both sides.The dispute over frozen assets has been a recurring theme throughout the negotiations. Multiple reports in recent weeks indicated that Iranian negotiators were pressing for the release of billions of dollars held abroad, particularly funds located in Qatar, viewing the issue as a key test of Washington's willingness to provide meaningful sanctions relief.While significant differences remain, the latest reports suggest that negotiators are increasingly focused on technical implementation issues rather than fundamental political disagreements. If the frozen-assets mechanism can be resolved, diplomats believe the parties may be able to move toward a formal agreement that would provide Iran with limited economic relief while preserving US leverage for future negotiations on more contentious issues. This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.