Middle East Crisis Peace Talks

Iran: Agreement Completed to Release Twelve Billion

One of Iran's chief negotiators says that an agreement to release twelve billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets has been finalized during talks in Switzerland, Reuters reports.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is working with Qatar to develop a mechanism that will enable the release of frozen Iranian assets in the country.

According to the information, the money will only be used for humanitarian purposes, with Iran's central bank ordering food, medicine and other goods via Qatar.

It is unclear whether this is the mechanism that the United States and Iran are now said to have agreed on. It is also not clear from which country the frozen assets will be released.

Iran denies progress in nuclear talks: No agreement

Iran denies that it agreed on or even discussed its nuclear energy program during Sunday's talks with the United States in Switzerland, Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, told Reuters.

US Vice President JD Vance said earlier on Monday that progress had been made on Iran's nuclear energy program and that the country had agreed to readmit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors.

- Iran's cooperation with the IAEA will continue according to current procedures, provided that it is approved by the Iranian parliament and in accordance with the decision of the Supreme National Security Council, Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Trump: War Goals Trump Global Depression

Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is worth the risk of a global economic depression, says Donald Trump according to CNN.

Asked if he is willing to risk triggering a depression by attacking Iran again, he replies:

– Not in the way I do it. It will not cause a depression. But if they do not live up to – yes, nuclear weapons trump depression.

An Iran with nuclear weapons could cause a depression faster than the current situation, the president continues, and once again threatens Iran with new military attacks.

On Monday, there were once again conflicting reports about the peace talks. US Vice President JD Vance claims that Iran has agreed to let in IAEA inspectors, while Iran denies that the nuclear energy program has even been discussed.