Iranian Parliament Speaker Demands Asset Release Before U.S. Talks
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, has set new conditions for upcoming negotiations with the United States, demanding the release of Iran's 'blocked assets' overseas. This demand comes just before scheduled talks between the two nations, adding complexity to the diplomatic efforts. Ghalibaf also insists on a cease-fire in Lebanon as a prerequisite for the negotiations, a point of contention between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. Treasury had previously frozen Iranian leadership accounts, which may be part of the assets in question. The cease-fire framework announced earlier this week is disputed, with Israel continuing strikes in southern Lebanon. The White House has indicated that the Iranian demands do not align with President Trump's basis for talks. 
