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Trump: Will not unfreeze Iranian assets before ceasefire deal

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • President Trump stated he will not release billions in frozen Iranian assets before a lasting ceasefire agreement ends the US-Israel war with Iran.
  • Iranian officials indicated fund release is needed to build trust for a lasting deal.
  • Trump threatened renewed strikes if a deal is not reached, while an Iranian military adviser called negotiations "at a deadlock."

U.S. President Donald Trump declared he will not unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets before a lasting ceasefire agreement is reached to formally end the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Trump made the statement in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, indicating little flexibility in the ongoing standoff over the frozen funds.

If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking.

— Donald TrumpOn the conditions for unfreezing Iranian assets.

"If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking," Trump said, adding that any unfreezing of assets "comes after" a deal is finalized. Iranian officials have consistently stated that any agreement hinges on the partial or full release of Tehran's frozen assets, citing deep mistrust of U.S. negotiations. The U.S. has conducted military operations against Iran during nuclear program talks, which analysts suggest has made Iranian officials wary.

We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them.

— Donald TrumpThreatening renewed strikes during an interview.

Trump has recently suggested a potential breakthrough was near, though key issues like control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program, and the frozen assets remain unresolved. Amid diplomatic efforts, Trump has also repeatedly threatened Iran with renewed strikes. In the NBC interview, filmed during a trip to Wisconsin, he stated, "We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them."

negotiations are at a deadlock

— Mohsen RezaeeDescribing the state of talks between Iran and the U.S.

Conversely, Mohsen Rezaee, a military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, told CNN that negotiations are "at a deadlock" and urged Trump to break the impasse. Iran is believed to have over $100 billion frozen globally due to sanctions. Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Tehran was to receive gradual access to these funds in exchange for curtailing its nuclear program, a deal Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018. Iranian state media reports suggest Tehran is seeking between $12 billion and $24 billion in frozen funds as part of a ceasefire deal, with half released upon signing and the remainder later. Rezaee described the release as a "test of trust."

test of trust

— Mohsen RezaeeReferring to the release of frozen Iranian funds.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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