US Says It Will Return Iran's $12 Billion in Assets if Talks Yield Deal

JAKARTA - Iranian state television reported that the draft of the US-Iran negotiations included an agreement to release the Islamic Republic's frozen assets worth USD12 billion.

The report is said to have quoted an "unofficial" draft of a US proposed negotiating document.

"The United States has promised to give Iran full access to its assets worth 12 billion US dollars within 60 days, so that these resources can be transferred and spent in the desired destination banks without restrictions," the Iranian government television report said. AFP reported on Sunday, May 31.

This news was released after President Donald Trump leaked details of the US-Iran negotiation draft, the key elements of which were denied by Iranian sources.

Trump insisted that "no money will be exchanged, until further notice," which was immediately denied by Iranian media citing sources familiar with the information.

Earlier last week, a source told AFP that the head of Iran's central bank was part of a delegation visiting Qatar "to discuss the issue of frozen funds [by the US], which was discussed in the MoU as part of the final agreement."

Iranian state television, which reported the news on Saturday, 30 May, also said Iran would continue to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by the Islamic Republic and shaken global markets by the US-Israeli attack since 28 February.