Qatar and Pakistan propose linking interest on Iran’s $6 billion in frozen funds to a secret IAEA visit to revive U.S.-Iran talks

Qatar and Pakistan have put forward a compromise proposal to revive talks between the United States and Iran, linking access to interest on Iran’s $6 billion in frozen funds to an inspection of Iranian nuclear sites, The New Arab reported.

Under the proposal, only interest on the funds held in Qatari banks would be deposited into an Iranian account; the principal would remain untouched. In return, Iran would allow a secret, unannounced visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to its nuclear sites. The inspection would address a key U.S. demand on the nuclear file.

The New Arab reported that Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir carried the proposal to Tehran on Tuesday. Sources cited in the report said the plan had U.S. approval, and that Iran had earlier responded positively.