Iran has claimed that Qatar has begun releasing $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets following a renewed understanding with the United States, even as U.S. officials disputed the assertion and uncertainty mounted over whether planned negotiations in Doha will proceed after fresh military exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflicting statements emerged only a day after Washington and Tehran agreed to suspend attacks in the strategically vital waterway, underscoring the fragile state of a ceasefire that has repeatedly come under pressure since the two sides ended months of open hostilities.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Monday that part of Iran's overseas assets would soon be returned to the country, portraying the reported transfer as a diplomatic breakthrough achieved through recent negotiations.
"Based on the plans made, $6 billion out of the total $12 billion of Iranian resources in Qatar will be released and returned to the country, and necessary follow-ups are being carried out," Pezeshkian said in remarks published by the state-run IRNA news agency.
The Iranian president also described the broader agreement with Washington as "a great victory for the Iranian people."
The announcement was quickly challenged.
According to The Associated Press, U.S. officials said no frozen Iranian assets had been released as of Monday, while Qatari authorities had not publicly confirmed that any transfer of Iranian funds had taken place. The differing accounts have created fresh uncertainty over what, if any, financial commitments have been implemented following the latest diplomatic contacts.
Questions have also surfaced over the next phase of negotiations.
Several reports indicated that U.S. and Iranian representatives were expected to meet Tuesday in Doha to continue discussions aimed at stabilizing the ceasefire and addressing unresolved disputes. However, Kazem Gharibabadi, a senior Iranian negotiator, cast doubt on those reports.
"Although consultations with Qatar, including on following up on the implementation of the other side's commitments, are continuing as usual, reports by some media about technical talks by the working groups being held in Doha are not confirmed," Gharibabadi said.
His remarks contrasted with statements from officials in the Trump administration and mediator Pakistan, both of whom indicated that negotiations were expected to resume on Tuesday.
The latest diplomatic confusion follows several days of renewed military exchanges that threatened to derail the ceasefire.
According to Axios, U.S. and Iranian officials concluded that the latest confrontation resulted largely from differing interpretations of the memorandum of understanding that ended the war, particularly provisions governing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump accused Iran on Friday of violating the ceasefire by launching attacks against commercial shipping.
Trump said the Iranian military fired "at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz," claiming one drone struck the upper deck of a cargo vessel while three others were intercepted by U.S. forces.
The United States subsequently carried out retaliatory military strikes against Iranian targets on at least two occasions following the reported drone attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the dispute.
Iran has increasingly asserted that commercial vessels passing through the waterway should comply with its regulations, particularly while navigating waters adjacent to Iranian territory. According to The Wall Street Journal, Iranian officials have been promoting a broader proposal under which Tehran would oversee maritime traffic through the strait while collecting transit fees.
The newspaper, citing Iranian officials familiar with the discussions, reported that Tehran believes such a system could generate roughly $40 billion annually. Iranian officials have also reportedly presented the proposal to neighboring Gulf states, arguing that sharing revenue with regional partners could make the initiative more politically acceptable.
Washington has consistently opposed any attempt to impose fees on international shipping through the waterway, arguing that freedom of navigation must remain protected in one of the world's most important energy corridors.
Against that backdrop, both governments announced Sunday that they had agreed to suspend military operations in advance of renewed diplomatic efforts.
"We decided to stop all the kinetic activity," a senior U.S. official told Axios after the latest understanding was reached.
