‘Major steps forward’ in US release of Iran’s seized assets

Muhammad Ali Shabani, a Middle East scholar says the US agreeing to allow Iran to receive oil sales in US dollars is a “huge” win for Tehran. “I think there’s definitely scope for optimism and I would look chiefly in the way this kind of dialogue is being institutionalized. As we’re seeing it unfold, we have multiple working groups, we have experts continuing talks in Switzerland right now, and with reference to the frozen funds, I think they made major steps forward,” Shabani said. The “bigger picture” is the United States issuing a waiver to permit the export of Iran’s vast oil and petroleum products, and allowing Tehran to receive money in US dollars for the sales, which was banned previously, he told Al Jazeera.