Reuters: UAE opens access to Iran funds worth up to US$20 billion
Abu Dhabi denied the transfer as Tehran-Washington negotiations were said to be entering their final stage.
The United Arab Emirates was reported to have agreed to open access to billions of dollars in funds for Iran as part of an effort to halt Tehran's attacks on UAE territory during the war with a US-Israel coalition. Sources cited by Reuters said the deal could range from more than US$3 billion already available for use to a total of US$10 billion to US$20 billion. Reuters said it could not immediately determine whether the money came from the UAE government or from Iranian assets that had been frozen in the UAE banking system or elsewhere. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs later strongly denied a report of a US$3 billion transfer and said no Iranian funds were released or facilitated through the UAE. The report came as talks between Tehran and Washington were said to be nearing their final stage.