Iran sets a $24 billion "test" to end the conflict with the US.
A senior Iranian official asserted that the release of the country's frozen assets is a crucial and decisive issue in the current negotiations between Tehran and Washington aimed at achieving a complete end to the conflict.
In an interview with CNN, Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, revealed that negotiations are at risk of stalling due to disagreements surrounding the release of Tehran's assets.
Rezaei emphasized the demand for Donald Trump during the negotiations: "If he wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of confidence. This is a test that the US side must pass to open the way for negotiations, because this is our money, not America's."
In fact, Iran has been subjected to a series of asset freezes and comprehensive sanctions from the US and Western countries since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Although no official figures have been released, media reports estimate that Iran's total frozen assets currently amount to between $100 billion and $123 billion. Unfreezing these funds is being considered by Tehran as one of the prerequisites for signing an agreement to end hostilities.
Besides financial issues, Iran also demanded an end to all hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Hezbollah forces are engaged in fighting with Israel.
Despite the ongoing ceasefire, tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high. Adviser Rezaei warned that Iran is prepared to "prolong the war" beyond the Persian Gulf and take the conflict to "a new level" if the US resumes hostilities. However, the official also stated that "the likelihood of a renewed war is currently low."