Trump says Iran is 'finished,' will get no U.S. funds

President Donald Trump declared that Iran sought engagement with Washington and asserted that Tehran would not receive any funds from the U.S. under a recent agreement aimed at ending hostilities. "We did not meet out of desperation; it was Iran who did. They are finished! We will let the 60 days (of the second phase of the agreement) pass. They will not receive any money, not ten cents!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Bagaei, held the United States directly responsible for recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon. He warned that "Iran will take measures to protect its allies." Bagaei stated that the end of hostilities in Lebanon is part of the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which took effect on Thursday. These statements followed Israeli attacks in Lebanese territory that resulted in at least 18 deaths.

Iran has repeatedly warned that the Lebanese front could derail the agreement with the U.S. if Israel continues its attacks. Consequently, U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday, were postponed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Israeli military would continue its operations in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, despite U.S. Vice President JD Vance suggesting Israel should "respect" the peace process with Iran.

U.S. and Iran postponed a meeting with mediators Qatar and Pakistan in Geneva, intended to formalize their understanding and begin discussing a lasting peace agreement. Iranian sources indicated their delegation suspended travel at the last minute due to the Israeli attacks and demanded an end to the occupation of southern Lebanon. The U.S. has publicly shown increasing divergence with Israel on the matter.