Diplomatic traffic hits a dead end: The condition stalling US-Iran talks revealed
Peace negotiations between Iran and the United States have been suspended due to billions of dollars in Iranian assets held in Washington. A senior Iranian official pointed to Trump as the key to a solution while clearly stating that a potential summit between the leaders will not take place.
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Peace initiatives between the Iranian and US governments are failing to progress due to fundamental disagreements between the parties. Mohsen Rezaei, a military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, made significant statements regarding the process and explained the reason for the deadlock.
Rezaei stated that for Donald Trump to make progress in the negotiations, it is a prerequisite that the US releases the $24 billion it holds. Iran is demanding that if an interim agreement is reached, $12 billion be released to them immediately in the first phase, with the remaining amount to be delivered in subsequent stages of the negotiations. The US side, however, is concerned that releasing these funds would mean losing one of its greatest diplomatic levers against Iran.
Rezaei described the release of the funds as a "trust test." He called on the US, saying, "If Trump wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of the trust Iran wants to build with Trump. This is a test that America must pass, and that is how the path will be cleared."
The Iranian official warned that if no results are achieved from the talks, a much larger war in the region, particularly in the Persian Gulf, would be inevitable. Rezaei noted that in the event of military tension, the US would be dragged into a dark process in the region and that conflicts could spread from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. He further added, "We will add another dimension to the war by attacking other American bases that we have not attacked until now."
Meanwhile, the debate over whether a potential summit between Trump and Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei—which has been discussed in public for a short time—might occur has been put to rest. Rezaei declared that there is no expectation of a meeting between the leaders, stating, "This will not happen. We are currently in the first phase of negotiations, and Mr. Trump has brought the negotiations to a deadlock. This situation will definitely not occur."