President Donald Trump has declared that the U.S. is committed to eradicating Iran’s enriched uranium reserves, either collaboratively or independently, regardless of whether Iran cooperates.
Trump stated in an NBC interview aired on Sunday, “It’ll be our equipment. We’ll take it out and destroy it, whether it’s on-site or whether we take it off-site,” Trump said. He also cautioned about severe military action if an agreement is not reached.
The President further clarified in the interview that the U.S. will consider lifting sanctions or unfreezing Iranian assets only after a peace deal is finalized.
“If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking” Trump said.
He also expressed his wish for a wider concession from Iran, beyond their promise not to develop nuclear weapons. He insisted on a clause that prevents Iran from procuring nuclear weapons through purchase or other means.
“I want to put the word, if they buy or purchase or acquire … You’ve got to have that in there too because that’s not developing,” Trump said. “So, they don’t have the right to develop or purchase, acquire or buy.”
Iran Assets Become Key Sticking Point
This development comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. Despite Trump’s attempts to dissuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from escalating the conflict, missile strikes have been exchanged between the two nations.
Furthermore, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to use Iranian assets to compensate for damages caused by Tehran’s strikes in the Gulf. This move follows remarks by Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, who stated that unlocking $24 billion in U.S.-held frozen Iranian assets is a prerequisite for any peace agreement.
More than $100 billion in Iranian assets remain inaccessible, largely because of international sanctions, banking restrictions, and ongoing legal disputes that have accumulated over decades. These frozen assets include oil revenues and other state-held funds locked in foreign accounts, limiting Iran’s access to a significant source of capital, reported Iran International, citing Iranian officials.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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