Efforts to reach a preliminary deal between Iran and the US have ​intensified, three Iranian sources and a ‌European official told Reuters on Thursday, despite strikes launched by both sides, as they discuss a mechanism ​for releasing frozen Iranian funds.

The sources said ​Iran and the United States were still ⁠exchanging messages over details of a memorandum ​of understanding amid the ongoing confrontation between Tehran ​and Washington.

The Iranian sources said a political understanding had been reached, but some issues remained to be discussed ​in detail, including a mechanism for the ​release of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian oil ‌revenues ⁠frozen in foreign banks.

“Iran wants $6 billion to $12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release ​funds in ​stages for ⁠humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright,” said one of ​the Iranian sources.

For its own survival, ​the ⁠clerical establishment’s priority is not a comprehensive settlement but a framework that can restore minimum ⁠breathing ​space for the establishment by ​unlocking its frozen assets and ending the war, the Iranian ​sources said.