Iran Seeks Release of Frozen Assets
Iran demanded that at least 50 percent of its frozen assets be released upon reaching a possible memorandum of understanding with the US.
“This is our own money. It is not money from Western countries or America that we would need to negotiate for aid or handouts,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said on Friday.
“It is our own money, which America has illegally blocked in the countries where those accounts are held, refusing to allow it to be spent or made available to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he continued.
Gharibabadi stressed that the assets must be released upon signing any memorandum of understanding, with the remainder to be released within two months.
Meanwhile, the Iranian official also confirmed that the exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington remains ongoing.
“We consider a text to be finished and finalized only when our considerations and interests have been fully incorporated into it,” he added.
Iran Defends Strait of Hormuz Rights
On the Strait of Hormuz, Gharibabadi emphasised Iran’s right to impose restrictions and charge fees for maritime services, citing international law.
“The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea itself stipulates that coastal states may charge fees for providing specific services,” he explained.
“If some countries oppose this, that is only natural. They have been using this waterway for free for more than four decades […] However, that cannot deter us from pursuing these positions and our rights,” he continued.
Background on Recent US-Iran Tensions
The US and Israel carried out a joint military operation against Iran on February 28. Tehran responded by launching missile attacks targeting Israel and several countries in the region.
On April 8, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran to allow space for negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement to end the crisis, later extending it ‘until Tehran submits its proposals,’ without setting a specific timeframe.
Islamabad hosted a round of talks between the US and Iran on April 11, but they did not yield any results. The second round of talks, which was scheduled between the two sides, has not yet taken place, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Article by Viory
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