A high-level Iranian delegation that includes the country's top negotiator and central bank chief were in Doha on Monday to discuss an agreement with the US and the release of frozen funds, according to news reports.

"Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha earlier today for talks on ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict," news agency AFP reported.

The visit will focus on issues relating to the Strait of Hormuz and highly enriched uranium, the AFP report said, adding the central bank governor is part of the delegation to discuss the issue of frozen funds.

Iran's official news agency IRNA confirmed the visit, saying: "This trip comes as part of the diplomatic process."

Other media in Iran including Tasnim and Fars news agencies said the delegation included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as well as Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati.

According to Fars, Washington agreed to release part of Tehran's funds frozen abroad under international sanctions and to end its naval blockade of ships travelling to and from Iranian ports in exchange for ending the Hormuz blockade.

In 2023, US$6 billion of frozen Iranian funds from South Korean banks were parked in Qatar pending the release of five American citizens held by Iran.

The funds were never released as ties soured between Washington and Tehran after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Monday it should be mandatory for countries including Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Türkiye to join the Abraham Accords en masse as part of an effort to reach a deal with Iran.

Trump said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which already has signed the accords, a set of agreements to normalise relations with Israel.

"I stated that, after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

He said those countries would be honoured to have Iran as part of the accords once a deal to end the war is reached.

Trump also said negotiations with Iran were "proceeding nicely" but gave no indication a deal was imminent. (AFP/Reuters)


Edited by Aaron Tam