Iran’s New President Blasts Global Silence on Israel, Demands $6 Billion Freeze-End
Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has slammed the international community for staying silent on Israeli military actions while simultaneously demanding the release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds held in Qatar. The twin demands come as regional leaders warn of a wider war and Israel threatens another strike on Iran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sharply criticized the international community for remaining silent on Israeli military actions, calling for unity across the Islamic world [189392]. In a separate statement, Pezeshkian announced that $6 billion of Iran’s funds held in Qatar “should be released” under a previous agreement with the United States, adding that “necessary follow-ups are underway” to secure the return of the money [184486]. The funds were originally frozen under US sanctions and unlocked as part of a 2023 prisoner swap deal [184486].
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed the alarm, condemning ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian and Lebanese territory and warning that such actions threaten to “drown the region in wars” [189057]. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also urged the international community to refocus efforts on the Palestinian issue, stressing the need to implement the first phase of the peace plan and move to its second phase [189058].
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is prepared to attack Iran again “if needed,” vowing that Tehran “will not have nuclear weapons” [185690]. Netanyahu’s warning signals Israel’s firm opposition to any agreement that would allow Iran to maintain nuclear capabilities, as talks between the US and Iran continue on a framework deal [185690].