Mohsen Rezaei, a military advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that negotiations with the United States have reached a standstill due to $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. He emphasized that any potential peace agreement hinges on whether the Trump administration will agree to unfreeze these funds.
Rezaei remarked, “Negotiations are at an impasse, and President Trump must break this deadlock. The ball is in Trump’s court.” According to CNN, Iran is demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets following an interim agreement with the U.S., with an additional $12 billion to be released later.
He further explained, “If Trump wants to reach an agreement with Iran, these $24 billion are a trust test that Iran wants to pass with him. This is our own money, not America’s.” Meanwhile, U.S. officials have expressed concerns that releasing these funds at this stage could diminish their leverage over the Iranian regime. Trump has insisted that any agreement must be significantly stronger than the 2015 nuclear deal.
In a broader context, Rezaei warned that Iran could extend military operations beyond the Persian Gulf if the U.S. reignites conflict, potentially affecting regions from the Strait of Hormuz to the Indian Ocean, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.
When asked about Khamenei’s health and his role in the country, Rezaei declined to comment but dismissed the possibility of a meeting between Khamenei and Trump, stating, “That won’t happen,” and noted that Trump is currently in a deadlock.
Rezaei also reiterated Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that both Iran and Oman hold rights over this waterway. He refrained from labeling the proposed tolls for ships passing through the strait as taxes, instead indicating that Tehran would charge fees for maintaining the strait.
Additionally, he expressed skepticism about the durability of any nuclear agreement with Trump, referencing the latter’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and his strategy of “uncertainty” in negotiations.
In conclusion, Rezaei stated that if negotiations fail, Iran is prepared for a potential U.S. invasion. He characterized the current conflict as a significant victory for Iran over its adversaries in the 47-year history of the Islamic Republic.
Iran's military advisor Mohsen Rezaei claims U.S. negotiations are stalled due to $24 billion in frozen assets, warning of potential military escalation if conflict resumes. He expresses skepticism about the durability of any future agreements with the Trump administration.