The United States has not released any of the $6 billion in Iranian assets frozen abroad, despite previous commitments tied to progress under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries, a U.S. administration official confirmed on Tuesday. The official emphasized that no funds will be disbursed unless Iran meets specific benchmarks outlined in the agreement.

The U.S. has maintained a position of conditional engagement, rejecting Iran’s initial demands for a lump-sum transfer of the frozen assets. Instead, officials have indicated that any potential payments would be made incrementally and directed only to designated vendors as Iran demonstrates compliance with the MOU’s requirements.

Iranian authorities have expressed intentions to negotiate the terms for accessing the funds during a planned visit to Doha, Qatar, where U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived ahead of the Iranian delegation. These discussions are seen as part of ongoing efforts to re-engage diplomatically following stalled talks.

However, Iranian officials denied earlier reports suggesting that formal negotiations with the United States would resume this week. This denial appeared to hinge on semantic distinctions rather than a rejection of dialogue altogether, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance. On a media appearance, Vance noted that Tehran is distinguishing between “peace talks” and “technical talks,” with the latter referring to discussions focused on the practical aspects of the agreement rather than broad political negotiations.

The situation reflects ongoing complexities in U.S.-Iran relations, where mutual distrust and competing demands have hindered significant progress. The status of frozen Iranian assets remains a critical bargaining point, as Tehran seeks access to funds amid economic challenges, while Washington insists on verifiable compliance before releasing any money.

The negotiations in Doha are being closely watched as a potential step toward managing longstanding tensions, though both sides continue to navigate a cautious and conditional framework for engagement.