Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, declared on 5/6 that discussions with the US are stalled over the issue of releasing frozen assets. "If President Donald Trump wants to reach an agreement with Iran, unfreezing $24 billion is the test of trust we want to set for him," Rezaei stated. "This is a test the US must pass to open the way forward. That is our money, not America's."

Rezaei warned that Tehran would "expand the war beyond the Gulf and take the conflict in a different direction" if Washington resumes hostile actions. However, the Iranian official added that the likelihood of war is "very low." US officials have not commented on this information.

Mohsen Rezaei gives an interview in Tehran, Iran, in 2021. *Photo: AP*

Iran has faced extensive asset freezes and sanctions from the US and Western countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. While there are no official figures on Iran's total frozen assets, US media estimates the amount to be between $100-123 billion.

President Trump is under pressure to find a solution to the Middle East conflict. Despite exchanges of fire raising concerns about a ceasefire breakdown, effective from 8/4, the US leader affirmed that "the situation with Iran seems to be progressing quite well."

However, Trump's comments contradict statements from Iranian officials. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that communication channels with the US remain open but there is "no concrete progress" in negotiations. Araghchi also warned that conflict could "fully re-erupt" if Israel launches an attack on Lebanon's capital, Beirut, against the armed group Hezbollah.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile is the focus of discussions, expressing hope that the latest round of talks between Israel and Lebanon would open a new security roadmap. Washington also stressed that Tehran needs to agree to limit nuclear activities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Vu Hoang (According to AFP)