A senior Iranian official said Saturday that the United States had agreed to release Iranian assets frozen in Qatar and other foreign banks, describing the move as a positive signal ahead of planned talks in Islamabad.

A U.S. official quickly rejected the claim, denying that any such agreement had been reached.

The Iranian source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of ongoing contacts, said Tehran had demanded the release of its blocked funds through messages exchanged with Washington and believed the request had been accepted.

According to the source, the issue is linked to discussions on safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, expected to be a key subject in upcoming negotiations.

While the official did not specify an amount, a second Iranian source said the funds involved total about $6 billion held in Qatari accounts. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment.

The money originates from Iranian oil revenues frozen in 2018 after the United States reimposed sanctions on Tehran, blocking access to funds held in South Korean banks.

Under a U.S.–Iran prisoner swap mediated by Doha in September 2023, the funds were transferred to Qatar. The agreement secured the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran and five Iranians held in the United States.

Following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas, Washington again restricted access to the funds, saying Iran would not be allowed to use the money for the foreseeable future.

The conflicting statements highlight the fragile atmosphere surrounding the upcoming U.S.–Iran engagement, where sanctions relief and regional security remain central issues.