PNN – Senior US government officials announced that Washington is prepared to take some initial steps to gradually ease sanctions on Iran within the framework of the diplomatic process.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; CNN reported on Monday local time that senior US administration officials downplayed the possibility of any “side deal” aimed at releasing Iranian assets frozen in Gulf states, but said the US was ready to take some “small steps” to begin the process of easing sanctions.
A senior US official said the Gulf coalition countries have been very supportive of an agreement between the US and Iran to begin intensive talks on some of the complex and unresolved issues to end this dispute.
CNN added: Among these issues, Iran has reportedly demanded the release of $12 billion in frozen assets immediately after signing an interim deal with the United States, as well as another $12 billion at a later stage.
CNN said: When asked if the deal would prevent a third country from immediately releasing Iranian assets, a US official said: You won’t see side deals with Qatar or the UAE or any of these other countries.
Referring to “close coordination” with regional partners, he added: The idea that any of these countries would want to make side deals with the Iranians is, in my opinion, not only unlikely, but completely illogical.
Another senior US administration official said the US and Iran were in the “early stages” of “confidence building” but noted that the US is prepared to release frozen assets and we are prepared to ease sanctions.
He said: Initially, we will take some small steps, if they take some small steps towards us that show they are committed to their commitments.
US President Donald Trump announced on his Twitter account on Sunday evening local time (June 14, 2026) after two wars against Iran: The agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete.
Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that a memorandum of understanding had been reached between the two countries and would be signed in Switzerland on Friday, June 19.
The Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran also issued a statement regarding the agreement to end the war between Iran and the United States, emphasizing that based on the agreements reached, the war and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, will end immediately and permanently starting tonight, and in addition, the naval blockade against Iran will end immediately and completely.