President Donald Trump said the United States is prepared to release Iran's frozen funds and ease economic sanctions, but only after Tehran demonstrates compliant behavior. The remark, reported by the Financial Times, marks a notable shift in rhetoric from the administration’s earlier maximalist pressure campaign.
The president acknowledged that Iran will keep its ballistic missile capability following the current conflict, a concession that deviates from previous demands for complete disarmament. The statement suggests a potential recalibration of U.S. policy toward prioritizing behavioral change over sweeping concessions.
No specific timeline or quantitative benchmarks were provided for the sanctions relief. The frozen funds, which include oil revenue held in foreign banks, have been a point of contention between the two nations for years, with Tehran arguing the assets are rightfully its own.
The implications are significant for global oil markets and Middle Eastern security dynamics. European allies, who have sought to preserve the nuclear deal framework, may see this as an opening for renewed diplomacy. Iran's leadership has not yet publicly responded to Trump's proposal.
Analysts caution that the vague conditions and lack of verification mechanisms could undermine the plan's credibility. A former State Department official described the approach as "aspirational but dangerously undefined."