US signs off on release of $12bn in Iranian assets, says Qalibaf

TEHRAN: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Tuesday that the United States and Iran have formally signed an agreement to release $12 billion of Tehran’s frozen assets.

The move marks another major diplomatic breakthrough between the two sides, after Washington earlier temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

The financial release follows the recent approval of a 60-day roadmap during negotiations in Switzerland, which aims to guide both nations toward a final, comprehensive agreement.

After the meeting, a joint declaration was issued confirming the establishment of a special committee to monitor the ongoing diplomatic process.

Regional Security And Lebanon

Talking to the media on the recently held talks, Qalibaf said that the negotiations in Switzerland yielded a mutual agreement to guarantee the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.

To further de-escalate Middle Eastern tensions, he said, both sides agreed to establish a new maritime communication and coordination system in the Strait of Hormuz.

The initiative is designed to prevent accidental military friction or conflict in the vital shipping lane.

Earlier, the US Treasury Department issued a crucial general licence granting Iran temporary authorisation to sell its crude oil and petroleum products on the global market.

Under the provisions of the new licence, Iran is permitted to continue its international petroleum sales until August 21.

Despite the temporary relief, certain geopolitical red lines remain actively enforced. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that the prohibition on purchasing Iranian oil remains strictly in place for North Korea an