A Deal Is Preferable to Extending the Ceasefire: Trump
Darwin, 15 April : U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is not considering extending the current ceasefire with Iran. Instead, he has expressed greater…
Darwin, 12 April: The United States has agreed to release frozen Iranian assets, according to sources cited during ongoing diplomatic talks between Iranian and US representatives in Islamabad.
The development is being viewed as a potential breakthrough in long-standing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
According to a source close to Pakistani mediators, cited by Al Jazeera, the initial round of direct talks concluded with both delegations exchanging written messages, indicating continued engagement and progress.
The talks lasted nearly two hours and were held in a positive atmosphere, with a dinner break taken before discussions were set to resume.
Before the talks began, Reuters reported—citing an Iranian source—that the United States had agreed in principle to release frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks. The issue has long been a central demand for Tehran in the negotiations.
Initially expected to be indirect, the talks shifted to direct engagement in the presence of Pakistani officials, an unexpected development widely seen as a significant diplomatic breakthrough.
Regional issues were also part of the discussions.
According to Al Jazeera, some progress was made regarding the situation in Lebanon, with indications that Israeli military operations may remain limited to southern Lebanon, and no further strikes expected in Beirut.
While the overall tone of the talks has been positive, the United States has not officially confirmed any final decision regarding the release of Iranian assets, leaving certain details of the agreement still uncertain.