President Donald Trump has categorically ruled out releasing Iranian assets held overseas before a final nuclear accord, insisting that any financial relief would come only after Tehran demonstrates good behavior. In an interview with NBC News that aired Sunday, June 7, the Republican leader stated bluntly that he would not lift sanctions or unfreeze funds as a precondition for an agreement. "That will come afterward," Trump said during the conversation recorded Friday. "If they act properly, if they do a good job." This hard-line stance sets a clear precondition as sensitive negotiations with Iran continue.
Financial Leverage as a Bargaining Chip
The president's refusal to release frozen Iranian assets underscores a strategy of holding maximum economic pressure until a deal is signed. According to a source close to the talks, the U.S. Treasury Department is even exploring an alternative use for those funds: compensating Gulf countries for damages caused by Iranian attacks. This move reveals the frozen money as a central strategic piece in the negotiations, with both sides viewing it as leverage. Trump conditioned any financial relief on a post-agreement evaluation, repeating "if they act properly, if they do a good job" during the interview.
Gulf Compensation Plan Under Consideration
The Treasury's reported consideration of using Iranian assets to reimburse Gulf nations adds a new layer of complexity to the discussions. Such a step would redirect funds that Tehran insists must be unfrozen first, potentially reshaping regional financial dynamics. The source indicated that this idea is being weighed as an alternative path if the main track stalls. It highlights how the frozen assets have become intertwined with broader security concerns in the Gulf region.
The Dispute Over Enriched Uranium
Another major sticking point in the talks is the fate of Iran's enriched uranium, which Trump claimed to know the exact location of. He said he wants to recover the material "one way or another," though he remained vague about deploying troops for that mission. "If we reach an agreement, now that we are on good terms, we will act together," the president declared on NBC's Meet the Press. He added, "It will be our material. We will remove it and destroy it, whether it is there or elsewhere." The disposal of enriched uranium is emerging as one of the most contentious issues blocking a full accord.
Rubio Confirms Discussions on Uranium
Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted this week that the uranium question is "clearly being addressed" in the negotiations, but conceded that Tehran has not yet given its approval. This admission underscores the gap between the two sides, even as Trump claims they are "very close" to signing a deal. The lack of Iranian consent on uranium disposal keeps the talks in a delicate balance. Rubio's comments confirm that the issue is a primary focus of diplomatic efforts.
Trump did not rule out a military offensive if the negotiations collapse, warning that the United States would "neutralize them militarily in a very brutal way." He said he would wait before making that decision, but assured, "Either way, we will be safe." The president also stated he wants to keep U.S. troops positioned in the region until the talks are "concluded," adding that he does not consider them in danger. Despite a fragile ceasefire, hostilities have resumed in recent days, notably around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for hydrocarbons that Tehran controls.
The American leader assessed Iran's new leadership positively, calling Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei, "more rational and very intelligent." Trump said the younger Khamenei is involved in approving a potential peace agreement and expressed openness to direct talks with him. "I would do that if he wanted," the president stated, while noting he has not yet spoken directly with the new leader. Asked if he knows Mojtaba's exact location, Trump declined to answer directly but said, "There is a good chance that I know." The two sides are reportedly "very close" to signing an accord, though the uranium disposal hurdle remains a major obstacle to ending the war the United States and Israel are waging against Iran.