The United States has sharply rejected Iranian assertions that billions of dollars in frozen assets will be released immediately after the signing of a framework agreement, exposing a fundamental rift over the sequencing of concessions just as both sides prepare for 60 days of detailed negotiations. A senior American official described as "completely false" the suggestion that Iran would gain access to an estimated $12 billion in blocked funds without first implementing its obligations. The denial, delivered to CNN and confirmed by other outlets, came hours after Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, publicly stated that the next phase of talks depended on Washington first fulfilling its commitments—including the release of frozen overseas assets.

Viewed from Washington, the deal—hailed by President Donald Trump as a completed agreement that would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US naval blockade—is structured strictly on a "performance for payment" basis. American officials insist that no sanctions relief will materialise until Iran verifiably begins to roll back its nuclear programme. A Financial Times report, cited by Russian agency Interfax, reinforces this stance, indicating that any easing of sanctions would be directly tied to progress on the nuclear file. The US position thus frames the initial accord as a procedural roadmap rather than a substantive breakthrough, with the 60-day negotiation window serving as a test of Iranian intentions.

From Tehran's vantage point, however, the narrative is markedly different. Iranian officials have characterised the agreement as requiring reciprocal steps from the outset, with the unfreezing of assets held in foreign banks—particularly in Asia—serving as a prerequisite for further talks. This divergence is not merely semantic; it reflects deep-seated mistrust rooted in Washington's 2018 withdrawal from the previous nuclear deal and the subsequent reimposition of crippling sanctions. For Iran, a tangible economic gesture is seen as essential to demonstrate US good faith before Tehran commits to dismantling or limiting elements of its nuclear infrastructure.

Analysts in Europe and the Gulf note that the contradictory accounts underscore the fragility of the diplomatic opening. While Trump's declaration of a completed deal and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz signal a desire for rapid de-escalation, the unresolved dispute over the timeline for sanctions relief could derail the 60-day negotiation period before it begins in earnest. The coming weeks will likely see intense behind-the-scenes wrangling over verification mechanisms and the precise definition of "implementation," with the fate of billions in frozen assets—and the broader stability of the Persian Gulf—hanging in the balance.