President Donald Trump announced that any funds unfrozen for Iran would be controlled by the US to ensure their use for purchasing food, specifically corn, wheat, and soybeans, exclusively from American farmers. He emphasized that this arrangement addresses a humanitarian crisis in Iran and benefits US agriculture. This comes as part of an interim US-Iran deal signed last week, following a period of conflict and negotiations. Vice President JD Vance and White House envoy Jared Kushner were involved in establishing the mechanism for controlling these funds.
Iran, however, has contradicted this assertion. While the US expects approximately $12 billion in frozen funds to be released, Iran's central bank governor, Abdolnaser Hemmati, stated that Tehran is not obligated to buy solely from the US and can use the money for other non-sanctioned goods. This divergence in understanding highlights ongoing tensions despite the broader progress in negotiations aimed at formally ending their war.
The unfreezing of funds is a major component of the interim agreement, which also includes provisions for limited inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency into Iran's nuclear program. Trump warned that he would "do what I have to do" if Iran did not adhere to the agreement, including the stipulated use of the unfrozen funds, which he claims are vital for feeding Iran's population of 91 million.
