US, Qatar dedicated to uphold terms of Iran unfrozen assets: Qatari FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Jan 2024 22:00

The Qatari diplomat affirmed that both Doha and Washington are dedicated to upholding the terms of the agreement reached with Iran concerning the unfrozen funds.

Illustrative photo of Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, left, is welcomed by his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the foreign ministry in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani engaged in a telephone conversation to address recent developments in both bilateral and international relations, IRNA reports.

During their phone conversation, Amir-Abdollahian and Abdulrahman delved into discussions regarding matters pertaining to Qatar's management of Iranian funds, which were released from US sanctions in September.

Abdulrahman affirmed that both Doha and Washington are dedicated to upholding the terms of the agreement reached with Iran concerning the unfrozen funds. He further noted that the execution process for releasing the funds is underway in accordance with the agreements established between the central banks of Iran and Qatar.

In their conversation addressing the current situation in Palestine, the two ministers emphasized that a consensus exists among nearly all participants and stakeholders involved in the war on Gaza, noting that a ceasefire could serve as a crucial step toward achieving a political settlement to the war.

Qatar as a mediator

Qatar, which is supposedly an ally of the US, has been hosting rounds of talks between members of the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli regime in order to reach a permanent settlement to the war on Gaza.

On January 24, the Qatari government accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of jeopardizing the talks by criticizing Qatar, potentially undermining the negotiations.

The dispute unfolded during crucial discussions between Qatar, Egypt, Israeli occupation forces, and Palestinian resistance.

Israeli officials claimed that Qatar isn't applying enough pressure on Hamas for a new captive release deal.

The rift intensified after Netanyahu allegedly expressed dissatisfaction with the recent US-Qatar agreement, extending the American military presence at a key base in Qatar.

Iranian funds

Last month, the House passed a bill to permanently and completely freeze Iran's $6 billion in funds it had promised to return to Iran earlier in 2023 in exchange for the release of five American prisoners.

The pretext for doing so was the alleged funding of resistance forces by Iran.

During the same month, reports alleged that Iran gained access to funds that were previously frozen in Omani banks.

On January 4, during a press briefing at the White House, reporters asked National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby: "Iran made two transactions withdrawing from the previously frozen funds in Oman. What were those transactions for?"

Kirby replied with: "I don’t have the details on that."