Iranian officials in Qatar for peace talks, frozen funds: source briefed

DOHA: A high-level Iranian delegation that includes the country’s top negotiator and central bank chief were in Doha on Monday to discuss an agreement with the US and the release of frozen funds, a source briefed on the matter told AFP.

“Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha earlier today for talks on ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict,” the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The visit will focus, the source added, “on issues relating to the Strait and highly enriched uranium. The Central Bank governor is part of the delegation to discuss the issue of frozen funds, which is addressed in the MoU as part of an eventual final deal”.

Iran’s official news agency IRNA confirmed the visit, saying: “This trip comes as part of the diplomatic process.”

Other media in Iran including Tasnim and Fars news agencies said the delegation included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as well as Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati.

According to Fars, Washington agreed to release part of Tehran’s funds frozen abroad under international sanctions and to end its naval blockade of ships travelling to and from Iranian ports in exchange for ending the Hormuz blockade.

In 2023, $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds from South Korean banks were parked in Qatar pending the release of five American citizens held by Iran.

Pakistan has so far been a main mediator in the peace talks between the United States and Iran.

The talks, ongoing since a ceasefire came into force on April 8, aim to comprehensively end the war and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In recent weeks Qatar, which has mediated between Iran and the United States in the past, appears to have played a growing role to push for talks.

Earlier this month, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held meetings with top US diplomat Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance in the United States to push for diplomacy.

Iran launched waves of missile and drones against Gulf states including Qatar in response to US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic that began on February 28.

Its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas usually passes, has also halted crucial maritime exports for the energy-rich Gulf, including Qatar’s LNG exports, straining their economies.