Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday said that USD 6 billion of Iran’s frozen assets held in Qatar will be released and transferred back to the country, describing the move as a significant achievement secured through Iran’s resilience and recent diplomatic efforts,Iranian media reported.
Speaking during a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Mousa Shobeiri Zanjani in the holy city of Qom, Pezeshkian said the amount represented “half of the $12 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar” and added that efforts were continuing to recover the remaining funds.
“The $6 billion of frozen assets will be released and returned to the country under the recent arrangements,” the president said.
Pezeshkian hailed the Iranian people’s steadfastness in the face of external pressure and recent security challenges, saying national unity had prevented Iran’s adversaries from achieving their objectives.
“Despite the martyrdom of senior officials, military commanders, prominent figures and students during the recent war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime, the Iranian people, the armed forces and the government stood together,” he said.
The president accused the United States and Israel of attempting to weaken Iran through sanctions and attacks on strategic economic sectors, including gas production facilities, steel plants and petrochemical industries, as well as efforts to curb Iranian oil exports.
“These efforts failed because of public support and national solidarity,” he said.
Pezeshkian also described the recent Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States as “a major victory for the Iranian people,” saying the agreement included the lifting of sanctions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors.He also claimed that Washington had persuaded Israel to accept the recent MoU despite opposition from Israel and some monarchist groups.
“The memorandum provides for the removal of sanctions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries,” he said.
The president said his government was simultaneously pursuing reconstruction efforts and expanding social welfare programs, including increasing the value of electronic food assistance vouchers.
Reiterating Tehran’s position on its nuclear programme, Pezeshkian said, “Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons,” adding that the country’s nuclear activities would continue solely for peaceful purposes and national needs.
