U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift sanctions against Iran until a peace deal is reached, signalling that any economic relief would only follow a formal agreement.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press, Trump said such measures would come only after Iran demonstrates compliance.
“Comes after,” he said. “Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah.”
The president also stated that he was not insisting Lebanon be included in any short-term agreement involving Tehran, although he noted that some parties may be interested in such involvement.
“I think they’d like to see it, but I’m not demanding,” Trump said during the interview, which was recorded on Friday.
The comments come amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran following military strikes that began on February 28, involving U.S. and Israeli forces.
The administration has been engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a potential peace agreement, which Trump suggested may be close.
“We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them,” he said.
Trump also said he would be willing to speak with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has reportedly not been seen publicly since being injured during the early stages of the conflict.
“I don’t want to say whether or not I know where he is, but there’s a good probability that I do,” Trump added.
Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have maintained that a temporary ceasefire is still holding despite continued military activity, describing recent strikes as defensive in nature.
The situation reflects ongoing uncertainty in diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran as both sides continue to navigate escalating tensions in the region.
