TEHRAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran expects Qatar to return its funds currently held in Qatari banks despite pressure from the United States, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Wednesday.

Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Tehran, which was also attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a statement published on his website.

"We consider Qatar as a friendly and brotherly country although there are still unclear and unresolved issues, such as the return of Iran's funds that were transferred from South Korea to Qatar," he said.

"We also know that the United States is the main obstacle to implementing the agreement reached in this regard," Khamenei said, adding that Iran expects Qatar to resist pressure from Washington and return Iran's assets.

According to an earlier agreement reached between Iran and the United States in 2023, 6 billion U.S. dollars of Iranian funds previously frozen in South Korean banks by Washington were released to Iranian accounts in Qatari banks.

In the meeting, the Qatari emir said a joint commission between the two countries would soon be activated, paving the way for increased economic exchanges in the near future.

The emir also praised Iran's positions in support of the world's "oppressed" people, saying the Iranian leader's steadfast support for the Palestinian people would never be forgotten.

Noting the challenging regional landscape, the emir emphasized the need for greater cooperation among regional countries.

The Qatari emir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday and held talks with the Iranian president. Enditem

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