Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, Rezaei made the remarks on Thursday evening. Based on the report, Rezaei also alleged that despite agreeing to the move, Trump has refrained from publicly announcing it. The adviser further said that the U.S. president is “afraid” of engaging in negotiations with Tehran because of what he described as Iran’s level of “power and authority.” Meanwhile, U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed that any decision regarding the release of Iran’s frozen assets would depend on the country’s conduct. Iran and the United States have in recent weeks been engaged in talks, mediated by Pakistan, aimed at reaching an agreement that would end tensions and pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, although officials on both sides have recently indicated that a draft agreement may have been finalized, it remains unclear whether Tehran and Washington will ultimately sign it.
