United Arab Emirates Denies Transfer of Iranian Assets Worth 3 Billion US Dollars

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied media reports that it had transferred part of Iran's assets worth 3 billion US dollars (around Rp53.3 trillion), according to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

"The United Arab Emirates categorically denies the reports published by several international media accusing it of transferring funds from the United Arab Emirates to the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the allegation of 3 billion US dollars," the ministry's statement said, quoted by Antara from Sputnik.

The ministry said the claim was completely false and unfounded, adding that no Iranian funds frozen had been disbursed, transferred or secured through the United Arab Emirates.

The ministry also said that the media should rely on official sources and refrain from publishing or disseminating unverified information and unfounded accusations.

Previously, Iran's Mehr news agency on Friday (12/6) stated that Iran would not start negotiations regarding its nuclear program until the United States fulfilled a number of conditions.

The report was broadcast after news of the issuance of a draft memorandum on ending the conflict between Tehran and Washington.

Final negotiations will not begin until half of the frozen funds (24 billion US dollars or around Rp427 trillion) can be released, oil sanctions against Iran are suspended, and the maritime blockade is lifted, Mehr reported.

The final agreement will exclusively address the fate of Iran's enriched materials, enrichment activities, and the lifting of sanctions, the news agency added.

Negotiations on Iran's nuclear program will only begin after a memorandum on ending the conflict is settled, the report said.