Dispute over frozen Iranian funds could test U.S.-Iran talks

A new dispute over frozen Iranian assets is emerging as U.S. and Iranian negotiators meet in Switzerland, according to a regional analyst. The disagreement centers on how much money may be released and, more importantly, who would control how it is used. The talks, held Sunday near Lucerne, are part of an interim framework signed on June 17. Iranian officials have signaled that they expect access to some funds abroad, including money held in Qatar, while U.S. officials have said any release would depend on compliance with the agreement. Analyst Alex Vatanka said the issue is likely to become one of the first major tests of the deal. He said Tehran wants sovereign control over the money, while Washington wants to keep leverage by limiting spending to approved purposes such as humanitarian purchases. The article says the broader amount of Iranian assets frozen abroad remains unclear, with estimates ranging from about $100 billion to $120 billion. For now, the immediate focus appears to be on an initial tranche of roughly $24 billion to $25 billion, although the mechanism for releasing it is still being negotiated.