Hemmati: No Portion of Iran's Blocked Funds Has Been Released Under the Memorandum So Far

Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said early on Thursday, 29 Mordad 1405 (August 20, 2026), in remarks carried by Ecoiran, that no portion of Iran's blocked foreign currency reserves has been released so far under the relevant memorandum.

He gave no further detail on which countries or institutions are party to the memorandum, or on a possible release timeline. The remarks came on the same day US President Donald Trump said he would announce the "most crushing" new economic action against Iran, a juxtaposition that highlights the gap between diplomatic promises and the reality on the ground for Iran's blocked funds.