Iran Says Qatar Assets Worth $6B Must Be Released

JAKARTA — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said assets in Qatar worth US$ 6 billion, or around Rp 107.4 trillion, must be released and returned to Tehran in line with an agreement with the United States. He made the statement as follow-up Iran-U.S. negotiations remained fragile and shadowed by fresh escalation in the Gulf.

For Iran, releasing the funds is not just about money. It concerns political legitimacy at home, Tehran’s leverage at the negotiating table, and the direction of ties with Washington after a series of tit-for-tat attacks around the Strait of Hormuz.

Assets in Qatar become a test of the Iran-U.S. deal

Pezeshkian, cited by IRNA and reported by Al Arabiya and Middle East Monitor on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, said about half of the total US$ 12 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar should already be in the release stage. He said the funds would be transferred to his country, while the process for the remainder is still ongoing.

“Under the plan that has been set, Iran’s assets worth US$ 6 billion, out of a total of US$ 12 billion, in Qatar should be released and returned to this country,” Pezeshkian said in his official statement.

The Iranian official also described the memorandum of understanding with the U.S. as a “major victory for the Iranian people.” He added that sanctions related to oil and petrochemicals had been lifted under the agreement. But in Washington, the narrative has been different.

So far, U.S. officials say no Iranian assets have been released. That means there is a gap between Tehran’s claim and Washington’s position. The gap matters because it will determine whether the agreement is truly moving forward or remains only on paper.

Qatar is back in the middle

Qatar is once again playing a central role as mediator. The Gulf state has become the main communication channel in talks between Iran and the U.S., especially as military tensions disrupt diplomacy. In conflicts like this, mediators are not just bystanders. They also help determine how quickly a crisis can be contained.

Sources cited by international media said mediator parties have built communication channels to ease tensions after the weekend incident. Technical talks between Iran and the U.S. are also expected to continue.

At this point, Qatar’s position is notable. On one hand, the country is the place where the disputed funds are held. On the other, Doha is a safe space for negotiations that Tehran and Washington cannot easily conduct directly.

Attacks, ceasefire, and the Strait of Hormuz dispute

Pezeshkian’s remarks came after the situation on the ground heated up. Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, two countries hosting U.S. military assets, on Sunday, July 28, 2026 local time. Tehran said the strikes were in response to Washington’s latest attacks on several targets in southern Iran.

The U.S. responded by accusing Iran of violating a ceasefire and attacking a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington also said its forces moved in response to “unjustified aggression” against commercial shipping. This strait is no ordinary route. A large share of the world’s energy supply passes through it.

Two weeks ago, Iran and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war. The document called for an end to hostilities across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to global energy supplies. On paper, it sounds orderly. On the ground, the situation remains volatile.

That is why the issue of assets in Qatar has also become a measure of trust. If the release happens, Tehran can claim there is tangible progress from the negotiations. If not, Iran’s domestic position could come under pressure, while the peace process becomes more likely to collapse.

For now, the key figure remains the same: US$ 6 billion out of a total US$ 12 billion. That is the amount Pezeshkian says must be released and returned immediately.