Iran asked US to unfreeze US$10 billion to show good will, Iran official claims
- Iran has rejected direct talks with the US. Indirect talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear accord stopped in June
- Iran has been unable to obtain tens of billions of dollars of its assets in foreign banks because of US sanctions on its banking and energy sectors
Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday that US officials tried to discuss restarting nuclear talks last month, but he insisted Washington must first release US$10 billion of Tehran’s frozen funds as a sign of good will.
Iran has rejected direct talks with the United States, and indirect talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear accord aimed at keeping Iran from being able to develop a nuclear weapon stopped in June.
The United States used intermediaries at the United Nations last month to attempt to make contact, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told state television.
Iran has been unable to obtain tens of billions of dollars of its assets in foreign banks, mainly from exports of oil and gas, because of US sanctions on its banking and energy sectors.
“The Americans tried to contact us through different channels (at the UN General Assembly) in New York, and I told the mediators if America’s intentions are serious then a serious indication was needed … by releasing at least US$10 billion of blocked money,” the minister said.