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Iran, Qatar reach 'good understanding' on $6bn unfrozen funds, says Pezeshkian

Friday, 04 October 2024 6:54 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 04 October 2024 6:54 AM ]

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks upon his return to Tehran from a visit to Doha, on October 3, 2024. (Photo by president.ir)

President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has reached a "good understanding" with Qatar on the $6 billion in Iranian funds that are being withheld by Doha after their release from South Korean banks.

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Thursday upon his return to Tehran from a visit to Doha, where he attended the 19th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit, held talks with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and oversaw the signing of six cooperation documents between the two countries.

“In Qatar, we have $6 billion in assets. The issue was discussed during a meeting between the governors of the two countries’ central banks, as well as the meeting with the Qatari Emir; We reached a good understanding in this regard,” he said.

In August 2023, Iran and the United States agreed to a Qatar-brokered deal to secure the release of some $6 billion of Iranian funds that had remained frozen in two South Korean banks since 2018 under the pretext of US sanctions.

The money was successfully transferred to bank accounts in Doha.

Chief banker confirms deposit of some $6 billion in unfrozen funds into Iran accounts in Qatar

The Central Bank of Iran governor has confirmed that the Islamic Republic’s released funds totaling $6 billion have now been transferred to Qatari banks.

Later, however, American media reported that the US had reached a “quiet understanding” with Qatar to stop the Islamic Republic from accessing its funds after Palestinian groups launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm in October 2023.

Also in his remarks, the Iranian president expressed hope that Iran and its neighboring states will join hands to put Israel in its place and make the regime stop its crimes and killings in the region.

“I hope we can lead the region to peace and security and develop harmony, empathy and unity among Islamic countries,” he said.

Iran seeks ‘strong region’: FM

In an X post on Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the message from President Pezeshkian’s trip was that Iran’s neighbors are its priority and that the country seeks a “strong region.”

Delighted to be in Doha for important engagement.

- In @drpezeshkian's 1st trip to Qatar, meeting Amir & PM + KSA FM + Hamas

- On sidelines of ACD, 1st Iran-GCC informal FM-level gathering

Message: Our neighbors are our priority—#StrongRegion our goal—#Dialogue is a must. pic.twitter.com/9ofEfThy0v
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) October 3, 2024

Araghchi accompanied the Iranian President during his visit to Qatar and participated in an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

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