Mediators in the negotiations between the United States and Iran are considering a deal that would free part of Iran's frozen funds abroad, with interest, if Tehran agrees to nuclear concessions, the Wall Street Journal reported. One such concession would be allowing inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return to the country.
A similar exchange has already been floated. On October 20, the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed described a compromise framework put forward by Pakistan and Qatar. The plan would transfer $6 billion in interest from frozen Iranian funds held in Qatari banks in exchange for an Iranian step on oversight of its nuclear program.
Sources involved in those contacts told the paper that Washington had approved the framework and that Tehran had given preliminary agreement in principle. That agreement reportedly included a secret visit by IAEA inspectors to nuclear sites.
