Iran says US talks stalled over $24B in frozen assets

An advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader told CNN on June 5 that peace talks with the U.S. have stalled over the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. The advisor stated that the negotiations are deadlocked and that the ball is in President Donald Trump's court to break the impasse. Iran is demanding the immediate release of $12 billion upon the signing of an interim agreement, with an additional $12 billion to be unfrozen in a later phase. U.S. officials, however, are concerned that releasing the assets at this stage would weaken key negotiating leverage. The advisor described the unfreezing of assets as a trust-building measure that would open a new chapter in bilateral relations. He also warned that if the U.S. were to resume military action, Iran would expand the conflict from the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Ocean, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, while adding that the likelihood of war is low. Regarding a potential meeting between Trump and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the advisor dismissed the possibility, stating that the talks are in their first phase and have been stalled by the U.S. president. This contrasts with remarks from President Trump earlier this week, who said he seems to get along well with Khamenei and that a meeting would be a great honor.