Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, stated on June 5 to CNN that negotiations with the United States are at a standstill due to the issue of unfreezing assets.
“If President Donald Trump wants to reach an agreement with Iran, unfreezing the 24 billion USD is the trust test we want to set for him. This is the test that the U.S. must pass to open the way forward. That is our money, not America’s,” advisor Rezaei said.
Rezaei warned that Tehran would “expand the conflict beyond the Gulf and take the conflict in a different direction” if Washington resumes hostile actions. However, the Iranian official added that the likelihood of war is “very low.”
Mohsen Rezaei answers questions during an interview in Tehran, Iran, in 2021. Photo: AP
U.S. officials have not commented on the information.
Iran has faced extensive asset freezes and sanctions from the U.S. and Western countries since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. While there are no official figures on the total frozen assets of Iran, U.S. media estimates the amount to be between 100-123 billion USD.
President Trump is under pressure to find a solution to the Middle East conflict. Despite gunfire exchanges raising concerns about the ceasefire effective since April 8, the U.S. leader stated that “the situation with Iran seems to be progressing quite well.”
However, Trump’s comments contrast with those from Iranian officials, as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that communication channels with the U.S. remain open but that there has been “no specific progress” in negotiations. Araghchi also warned that conflict could “reignite comprehensively” if Israel launches an attack on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, against the armed group Hezbollah.
U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio previously stated that Iran’s high-enriched uranium stockpile is the focus of discussions, expressing hope that the latest negotiations between Israel and Lebanon would pave the way for new security arrangements. Washington also emphasized that Tehran needs to agree to limit its nuclear activities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In peace proposals, Iran demands an end to hostilities on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, as well as the withdrawal of U.S. forces from areas near Iran and compensation for damages caused by the conflict. Tehran also wants Washington to end its maritime blockade and recognize Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Vu Hoang (According to CNN, AFP)
