Monday, June 29, 2026

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Iran confirms $6 billion asset release but denies planned US negotiations this week

Iran has dismissed reports of imminent direct talks with the United States in Qatar, saying no meetings between the two sides' technical teams are currently planned.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Monday, June 29, 2026

Tehran: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said reports suggesting technical talks between Iranian and US officials would take place in Doha this week could not be confirmed.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Gharibabadi said consultations with Qatar were continuing as usual, including discussions related to the implementation of commitments by the other party. However, he stressed that no date or venue had been agreed for the first round of technical talks.

He added that the meetings would only take place once the necessary conditions had been met, with consultations continuing through intermediary countries.

The clarification follows reports by several international media outlets that US-Iran technical discussions were expected to be held in the Qatari capital on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar would be released and returned to Iran. According to the state news agency IRNA, the amount represents half of the estimated $12 billion in Iranian funds held in the Gulf nation.

The announcement comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that none of Iran’s frozen funds had yet been transferred. Rubio also revealed that a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund had been discussed with Gulf leaders during his regional visit.

The United States has granted Iran a 60-day sanctions waiver allowing it to resume oil exports, although Washington and Tehran continue to differ on how the unfrozen assets may be used.

US President Donald Trump has said the funds are intended for purchases of food and medical supplies from the United States, while Iranian officials maintain that Tehran alone will determine how the money is spent.

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