Although the specific WSJ article requested could not be retrieved, web searches from early and mid-2026 indicate a significant focus on the unfreezing of Iranian assets, particularly $6 billion held in Qatar. An Iranian source claimed in April 2026 that the US had agreed to release these funds, linking the move to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. However, US officials swiftly denied this assertion, even as talks between American and Iranian delegations were reportedly underway in Islamabad.
The $6 billion in question originated from Iranian oil sales to South Korea, which were frozen after the US reimposed sanctions in 2018. These funds were later transferred to Qatari bank accounts in September 2023 as part of a prisoner swap, where five US citizens were released by Iran in exchange for the funds' release and five Iranians held in the US. At the time, US officials stated the money was restricted solely to humanitarian use, disbursed under US Treasury oversight for goods like food, medicine, and agricultural products.
The funds, initially frozen in 2018, were slated for release in 2023 but were re-frozen by the Biden administration following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas, given Hamas's ties to Iran. US officials had stated that Iran would not access the money in the foreseeable future and that Washington retained the right to completely freeze the account. More recently, in May 2026, concerns have been raised about Iran demanding access to a larger sum, potentially $12 billion, as a precondition for an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US, with Iran emphasizing that guaranteed access to funds is crucial before any preliminary diplomatic understanding can proceed.
