Ned Price: Report on Unilateral Release of Iran’s Assets is Inaccurate

The fourth round of negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement known as JCPOA will resume on Friday in Vienna, the capital of Austria. A U.S. State Department official, on the eve of the start of the fourth round of Vienna talks, said that reaching an agreement for the simultaneous return and commitment of both Iran and the United States to JCPOA could be possible within the coming weeks, but this is contingent on a “political decision” by Tehran.

This senior U.S. State Department official, in response to a question about Iran’s nuclear advances since it withdrew from its JCPOA commitments, acknowledged that these advances have created “complexities” that must somehow be addressed.

Nevertheless, three informed sources told CNN that, although it is unclear whether Iran’s assets will be released unilaterally, it could be a measure to demonstrate Washington’s good faith to Tehran.

CNN says that as negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement in Vienna enter its second month, there are still no clear signs of reaching an agreement.

The American network further added that Iran’s assets will not be made available to Iran in cash, but rather through the Swiss channel, or the “Swiss Humanitarian Trade Agreement,” which was launched last year and allows humanitarian aid such as food and medicine to be sent to Iran without violating U.S. sanctions.

An aide to a Republican congressman said that such a plan would face opposition from Iran’s opponents in Congress, as they believe that releasing Iran’s assets is a concession to Tehran and reduces America’s leverage of pressure.