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Saturday, May 30, 2026
$6b in Iranian funds parked in Qatar among last sticking points in talks with US — report
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The New York Post reports that one of the final sticking points for the US to approve a memorandum of understanding with Iran is the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds parked in Qatar following a 2023 US-Iran prisoner swap deal.
A US official cited by the Post says the funds would be released gradually in the form of food and medical supplies as Iran meets benchmarks, including opening and demining the Strait of Hormuz.
It’s unclear from the report if the official is describing a US proposal or a clause of the draft agreement.
In September 2023, as part of a deal that saw Washington and Tehran set free five of each other’s nationals, then-US president Joe Biden waived sanctions that prevented Iran from withdrawing the $6 billion from South Korea.
The funds were transferred from South Korea to Qatari accounts, but were withheld after Iran-backed terror group Hamas stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking the war in Gaza.
US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he was entering the White House Situation Room for a “final determination” on the talks with Iran. A senior administration official later told The New York Times that the meeting ended inconclusively, with an agreement close but further debate required on issues including the unfreezing of Iranian funds.
The Times of Israel Community.