Iran demands immediate release of 50% of frozen assets upon any understanding with US

Iran says at least 50 percent of its frozen financial assets must be released immediately upon the signing of any memorandum of understanding with the United States.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi told Mehr News Agency on Thursday that Tehran would only consider any draft agreement final if its “interests and concerns are fully considered.”

“At minimum, the Islamic Republic of Iran insists that 50% of these funds be made available to Iran immediately upon the signing of the memorandum of understanding,” Gharibabadi said.

The remaining funds, he added, should be “unblocked within a limited timeframe of no more than one to two months after the deal is signed.”

Gharibabadi said that the assets in question belong to Iran and have been “illegally frozen” by the United States and their release is a central requirement in any potential understanding.

He said the remaining details of the mechanism for accessing the funds, including technical and financial arrangements, would be subject to further negotiations during a 60-day implementation period following the signing of the memorandum.

Among other key conditions, he said, is that the US must lift the illegal naval blockade on Iranian ports if Tehran takes steps related to the Strait of Hormuz.

Gharibabadi added that some media outlets have suggested the arrangement would be a simple “one-to-one exchange” in which the United States lifts a blockade and Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.

“No, it is not like that,” he said, stressing that “this is not one action in exchange for one action.”

“The step we take in Hormuz can have different possible measures attached to it.”

According to him, Tehran expects broader commitments in any agreement, including the immediate and permanent end of hostilities in all regional fronts, including Lebanon.

Lifting all unilateral US sanctions, including primary and secondary sanctions, and normalizing Iran’s status at the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors are also among Tehran’s key demands, he added.

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Iran also demands full reparation, including compensation for all material and moral damage sustained as a result of the US and Israel’s aggression against the country, Gharibabadi said.

Iran has also demanded compensation from five Arab countries— Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan— for allowing their territories to be used by the US and Israel for attacking the Iranian territory and in some cases directly participating in unlawful armed attacks against the country.

While Iran and the US have edged closer to finalizing a memorandum to end the imposed war, Tehran warns that its patience has limits and that any aggression against the country’s soil will be met with a devastating response, including expanding restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al‑Mandab Strait.

Since the US and Israel launched the aggression against Iran in late February, Iranian armed forces shut down the Strait of Hormuz to its enemies and their allies. The authorities began enforcing much stricter controls last month following Trump's announcement of the so-called blockade targeting Iranian vessels and ports.

Washington has maintained the illegal blockade in a violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement mediate by Pakistan in early April.

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