$6 Billion Held By Qatar Emerges As Final Major Obstacle In President Trump’s Iran Peace Deal

One of the final major sticking points in negotiations between the United States and Iran involves the phased release of roughly $6 billion currently held by Qatar for humanitarian purposes, according to officials familiar with the talks.

President Donald Trump and Iranian negotiators are reportedly closing in on a memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping while buying additional time for a second phase of negotiations focused on Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile.

Under the tentative framework, the funds held by Qatar would not be transferred directly to Iran. Instead, the money would be used to purchase food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies for the war-torn country.

Administration officials indicated that any release of the funds would occur gradually and only if Iran complies with key benchmarks, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and removing naval mines from the strategic waterway.

The $6 billion originated from a controversial September 2023 prisoner exchange negotiated under former President Joe Biden that secured the release of five detained Iranian-Americans in exchange for five Iranians held by the United States.

Weeks later, Hamas terrorists launched the Oct. 7, 2023 attack against Israel, prompting the US to tighten restrictions surrounding access to the money.

Officials now describe the current negotiations as the closest the two sides have come to reaching a deal since the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran erupted earlier this year.

President Trump convened his national security team Friday inside the White House Situation Room, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to review the latest terms.

Following the meeting, President Trump reiterated that eliminating Iran’s remaining enriched uranium — which he has repeatedly referred to as “nuclear dust” — remains a non-negotiable demand.

“The nuclear material … will be unearthed by the United States,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the US and China are believed to possess the necessary capabilities to recover the buried uranium.

Officials say one of the biggest complications slowing negotiations is the limited access negotiators have to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly remains in hiding due to fears of assassination attempts by the United States or Israel.

Messages between negotiators and Iran’s leadership reportedly require a lengthy courier process that can take several days.

While major elements of a cease-fire extension and Strait of Hormuz reopening appear close to resolution, questions surrounding Iran’s uranium stockpile remain unsettled.

Officials have discussed multiple possible outcomes, including transporting the uranium abroad to countries such as Pakistan or Turkey, diluting the material while keeping it inside Iran, or destroying it entirely under international supervision.

President Trump has publicly ruled out sending the uranium to either Russia or China, despite reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed in principle during recent talks in Beijing to assist with recovering the buried material.

Trump also stressed Friday that no direct economic relief would be granted until Iran fully complies with the agreement.

“No money will be exchanged, until further notice,” the president wrote.