KABUL: A senior Iranian official says the United States has agreed to release Tehran’s frozen assets held in banks in Qatar and other foreign institutions.

According to Reuters on Saturday, the unnamed Iranian official said the move reflects Washington’s “seriousness” in reaching an agreement during the upcoming talks in Islamabad.

The official added that the unfreezing of assets is directly linked to ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

While the exact amount was not confirmed, another Iranian source cited by Reuters estimated the funds at around $6 billion.

The assets were originally frozen in 2018 and were expected to be released in 2023, but the process stalled following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Earlier, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf had described the release of Iran’s assets as a key precondition for starting talks with the U.S.