FM Says, Iran Asked U.S. to Unfreeze $10 Billion Before Restarting Nuclear Talks

An Iranian official claim that Iran has rejected direct talks with the United States, and indirect talks to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, which was intended to keep Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, ceased last month.
Release $10 billion
Speaking on Saturday, Iran’s foreign minister said that US officials tried to discuss reopening nuclear talks last month but that he insisted that Washington first release $10 billion of Tehran’s blocked cash to show good faith.
Why are $10 bn frozen?
As a result of Iran’s rejection of direct discussions with the United States, indirect negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear agreement that aimed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon came to a halt in late June.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on state television, the United States tried to contact Iran last month through UN agents.
US sanctions on Iran’s banking and energy
US sanctions on Iran’s banking and energy sectors have prevented the country from amassing tens of billions of dollars worth of assets in international banks, primarily from oil and gas exports.
As a result, the Americans made several attempts to contact us in New York (during the UN General Assembly), and I told the mediators that if the United States is serious about its intentions, a significant indication was needed… by releasing at least $10 billion in blocked funds, the foreign minister said.
Amirabdollahian- claims
During the TV interview, Amirabdollahian claimed that the Americans were unwilling to release $10 billion in Iranian national property so that Iran could claim that the United States previously considered its interests.
There is a sense that time is running out because Iran’s nuclear program has progressed well beyond what was agreed upon in the deal.
When asked about a timetable for returning to the Vienna negotiations, Amirabdollahian said only that Iran would return “soon.”
If Washington relaxes all sanctions, Tehran claims its nuclear actions may be reversed. According to Iranian and Western officials, many difficulties need to be overcome before the agreement can be restored.