The US and Qatar are working on a plan that would allow Iran to use a portion of its billions of dollars in frozen overseas funds for humanitarian spending.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing sources familiar with the situation, the plan is not yet finalized and envisions providing access to a portion of Iran's frozen assets, which are estimated to be worth around $100 billion worldwide.
In the initial phase, the release of $6 billion in funds held in Qatar could be on the agenda.
How the Plan Would Work
Under the proposed scheme, Qatar would pay for purchases of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods ordered by the Central Bank of Iran, using funds provided from Iran's frozen assets.
It is stated that these funds are revenues from Iranian oil sales that have been blocked abroad due to sanctions.
Could Be Part of Negotiations
This proposal could be one of the issues the US is considering addressing in planned negotiations with Iran within the next two months. These negotiations will follow agreements reached on halting conflicts and restarting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and the US announced on June 14 that they had reached a 14-point agreement through Pakistan's mediation. The document, called the 'Islamabad Accord' and signed remotely by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on June 18, envisions an end to conflicts, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of the US naval blockade against Iran.
The parties are expected to begin a 60-day negotiation process following the signing of the accord, aiming to reach a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
