Tehran, Clear Skies Magazine: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that $6 billion of Iran’s frozen assets held in Qatar will be released and transferred back to Iran under recent arrangements, describing the development as a significant achievement stemming from the country’s resilience.
Speaking during a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Mousa Shobeiri Zanjani in the holy city of Qom, Pezeshkian said the amount represents half of the approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar, adding that efforts are continuing to secure the return of the remaining funds.
The president praised the Iranian people for their steadfastness in the face of external pressure and recent security challenges, saying national unity had enabled the country to withstand difficult circumstances.
Pezeshkian said that despite the loss of senior officials, military commanders, prominent figures and students during what he described as a war imposed by the United States and Israel, the Iranian public, armed forces and government acted in concert to prevent the country’s adversaries from achieving their objectives.
He further alleged that the United States and Israel had attempted to weaken Iran through economic pressure and attacks targeting key infrastructure, including gas production facilities, steel plants and the petrochemical sector, while also seeking to curb Iranian oil exports. According to the president, those efforts were unsuccessful due to public support and national solidarity.
Referring to a recently announced Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, Pezeshkian described the agreement as a major achievement for the Iranian people, stating that it includes the removal of sanctions affecting Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors.
The president said the government is continuing reconstruction efforts while expanding social support programmes, including increasing the value of electronic food assistance vouchers for eligible citizens.
Reaffirming Iran’s position on its nuclear programme, Pezeshkian said the country is not pursuing nuclear weapons and that its nuclear activities will continue exclusively for peaceful purposes and national development within its declared policies.
He also claimed that the United States ultimately persuaded Israel to accept the recent memorandum of understanding despite opposition from Israeli authorities and some monarchist groups.
Grand Ayatollah Mousa Shobeiri Zanjani expressed appreciation for the efforts of President Pezeshkian and other Iranian officials, emphasizing what he described as the Islamic Republic’s distinguished position within the Muslim world.