Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva publicly contradicted US assertions on Tuesday that any unfrozen Iranian assets would be placed under American and Qatari control and directed toward purchases of US agricultural goods. Ali Bahreini told reporters that “Iran is the only country to decide what to do with its assets,” rejecting any external influence over spending decisions. The dispute surfaced even as both delegations described the first round of technical talks, held under a memorandum of understanding signed last week, as constructive, and as Washington activated a 60-day waiver on sanctions against Iranian oil and petrochemical exports.

Viewed from Washington, the asset-control mechanism is a central element of the interim framework. Vice President JD Vance stated on Monday that if frozen Iranian funds are released, “we have approval over that process; the Qataris have approval over that process,” and that the money would be used to buy US corn, soy and wheat — a proposal he attributed to senior adviser Jared Kushner. President Donald Trump reinforced the position on social media, saying the funds would be held in an escrow account under US control and earmarked for American food and medical supplies. US officials also signalled that Iran would readmit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to nuclear sites damaged in earlier military strikes.

Tehran's response, delivered through Bahreini and foreign-ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, drew sharp boundaries. Bahreini acknowledged that Washington and Doha would handle “technical arrangements” to unfreeze assets — largely oil revenues and central-bank reserves, estimated at $12 billion — because the funds were originally blocked by the US and some are held in Qatar. However, he insisted that “certainly Iran does not allow them to have further influence on the other processes, which have been related to buying the commodities and importing them.” Baqaei separately denied any plans to host IAEA inspections of nuclear facilities damaged in what he termed “the US and Zionist military attacks.” Bahreini also declared that “Iran's red line is any more attack against Lebanon,” urging Washington to use its leverage over Israel to uphold the fragile ceasefire that has largely held in southern Lebanon since Sunday.

The contradictory statements on asset governance and nuclear inspections underscore the fragility of the 60-day negotiating roadmap, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar at the Buergenstock resort in Switzerland. Two working groups are expected to be established in the coming days to address sanctions removal and Iranian nuclear activities. For Tehran, the temporary sanctions relief on oil and chemical exports serves as a test case for broader economic normalisation; Bahreini reiterated that Iran seeks the complete removal of sanctions. The next round of technical discussions is expected shortly, with the implementation of the asset-release mechanism likely to be an early test of whether the parties can translate the memorandum of understanding into a durable agreement.