A dispute over billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets is emerging as one of the first major challenges facing implementation of the interim agreement recently signed between the U.S. and Iran, according to analysts and officials involved in the negotiations.
The issue surfaced as American and Iranian negotiators met Sunday in Switzerland for the first round of technical talks aimed at carrying out the memorandum of understanding signed June 17.
The agreement established a framework for easing tensions between Washington and Tehran while opening negotiations on a broader nuclear accord.
Among the most significant unresolved issues is the future of Iranian assets frozen abroad under international sanctions and financial restrictions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled Tehran’s expectations before the talks began.
“$6 billion of our funds in Qatar will be returned,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iran International.
President Donald Trump has acknowledged that frozen Iranian assets could eventually be released but stressed that access remains conditional.
“We have taken their money, it isn’t our money, it is their money, and we froze it,” Trump said during remarks referenced in reports.
“At a certain point in time, I guess we’re going to have to give it back,” he added.
Trump has also stated that Iran would receive “not ten cents” during the 60-day negotiation period if it failed to comply with the agreement’s requirements.
The memorandum states that the U.S. will work to make restricted and frozen Iranian funds available.
However, implementation is tied to a phased process linked to compliance and verification measures.
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said the dispute represents an early test of trust between the two countries.
“Releasing frozen assets is not simply an economic question,” Vatanka told Fox News Digital.
“It is one of the central political tests of trust between Tehran and Washington and will likely become one of the first major implementation disputes in the weeks ahead,” he said.
According to Vatanka, there remains uncertainty regarding the total amount of Iranian assets frozen abroad.
Iranian officials have often cited figures exceeding $100 billion, while estimates from Western sources place the total between roughly $100 billion and $120 billion, per Fox News.
Current negotiations are reportedly focused on providing access to approximately $24 billion to $25 billion as an initial tranche.
The central disagreement, Vatanka said, involves control over how the money is ultimately used.
“The real dispute is not simply about how much money Iran receives, but who ultimately controls how it is spent,” he said.
Iran has argued that the funds should be available for national development and infrastructure projects.
U.S. officials have instead advocated for controlled mechanisms limiting expenditures to approved civilian and humanitarian purposes.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said technical teams are working to negotiate a final agreement while oversight groups monitor compliance.
Reports indicate the U.S. and Qatar are exploring a framework that would direct an initial $6 billion toward humanitarian purchases such as food and medicine.
Western intelligence officials have expressed concerns that unrestricted access to funds could allow Iran to expand support for regional allies and proxy groups.
Reuters reported that Iran has already signaled to Hezbollah that increased financial support could resume if Tehran’s financial position improves.
Negotiators are expected to continue discussions in Switzerland as both sides seek agreement on implementation details that could determine the long-term success of the broader diplomatic effort.
