Chicago – June 06, 2026
Negotiations between Iran and the United States have reached a deadlock over Tehran’s demand for the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, according to Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader. Rezaei said the funds are a key trust-building measure and insisted that Washington must act to move talks forward.
Iran is reportedly seeking an initial release of $12 billion upon signing an interim agreement, with the remaining amount to follow later. The United States has resisted the demand, arguing that the assets remain important leverage in negotiations. Rezaei also warned that a return to military conflict could expand beyond the Persian Gulf, potentially affecting key waterways and increasing the risk of a wider regional war.
