A senior U.S. official has dismissed claims that Washington has agreed to release Iran’s frozen assets held in foreign banks, calling the report untrue.
The denial came after a Reuters report, citing an unnamed Iranian source, suggested the U.S. had agreed to unfreeze the funds as part of ongoing efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.
But in a brief response from the White House, the official pushed back, saying: “False. The meetings have not even started yet.”
Talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives are expected to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, as both sides look for a path to end the ongoing conflict in the region.
Iran had earlier indicated that any lasting agreement would likely depend on key conditions, including access to its frozen assets and an end to Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad ahead of the discussions. Officials say the talks aimed at de-escalating the crisis have now begun.uS
