Iran Says U.S. to Lift Oil Sanctions, Release $6 Billion in Frozen Assets Under New Deal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that the United States has agreed to lift sanctions on Iran's oil and petrochemical sectors as part of a new bilateral agreement. He also said that $6 billion of Iran's frozen assets held in Qatar would be released in the first phase of the deal.

Pezeshkian made the announcement on Monday during a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani in the city of Qom, describing the recent agreement with Washington as a "major victory" for the Iranian people.

According to the president, Iran has a total of $12 billion in frozen funds in Qatar. "In the first phase, $6 billion will be released, and efforts are underway to secure the return of the remaining funds," he said.

He added that both the sanctions relief and the release of the frozen assets are part of understandings reached during negotiations in Switzerland and a memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad.

Pezeshkian praised the resilience of the Iranian people during the recent conflict, saying the country remained united despite the deaths of senior officials, military commanders, prominent figures and schoolchildren.

He claimed that the United States and Israel had sought to destabilize Iran through military and economic pressure but had failed due to public resistance and national unity.

Reiterating Iran's long-standing position on its nuclear program, Pezeshkian said the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

"We assure the international community that our nuclear activities will remain within our declared policy and serve only the country's legitimate needs," he said.

The Iranian president also claimed that the United States ultimately persuaded Israel to accept the agreement, although he alleged that Israel and some opposition groups continue to oppose its implementation.

He further said Iran has begun post-war reconstruction efforts and is introducing support measures for citizens, including expanding subsidized loan facilities for food assistance.