Iran to use part of $6B frozen assets for 'needed goods'

Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs said on Wednesday that part of the initial $6 billion in frozen assets will be used to purchase essential commodities, following a round of negotiations in Doha with Qatari officials. Kazem Gharibabadi, who serves as Tehran's chief negotiator, told the official IRNA news agency that meetings with Qatari counterparts addressed practical arrangements for accessing the funds.

"During meetings with Qatari officials, some issues related to spending part of the initial $6 billion were reviewed, and it was decided that, based on our country's declared needs, the purchase of needed goods would be carried out and made available to Iran," Gharibabadi said. He added that the Iranian delegation held discussions with both Qatari and Pakistani mediators to follow up on the implementation of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding with the United States.

Communication channel established

The three sides agreed to establish an "urgent communication channel" to formally document and review implementation of the memorandum, Gharibabadi stated. The mechanism aims to facilitate coordination between Tehran, Doha and Islamabad regarding the release and utilization of the frozen funds, according to the Iranian foreign ministry.

No direct US-Iran talks

The Iranian official noted that "no direct meeting" had taken place between Iranian and American delegations during the Doha discussions. The absence of direct contact between Tehran and Washington was confirmed by the chief negotiator, according to IRNA.