US reportedly persuaded Qatar to halt $6bn to Iran in breach of deal

Report comes amid pressure for Biden to deny Iran revenues amid speculation over how big a role Tehran played in Hamas attack

A contentious deal to unfreeze $6bn of Iranian oil revenues has been plunged into uncertainty amid reports that the Biden administration has persuaded Qatar to withhold the funds in breach of a previous agreement following the devastating attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel.

There has been mounting pressure from both Democrats and Republicans for the White House to deny Iran access to the revenues in the face of speculation over how big a role Iran played in the weekend's attack by Hamas, Tehran's close ally and proxy.