WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump downplayed talk of immediate sanctions relief on Iran amid ongoing negotiations to secure a lasting peace agreement with Tehran.
“We’re not talking about any easing of sanctions or giving money,” Trump said during a White House Cabinet meeting on May 27.
Rather than granting immediate relief as part of a deal, Trump indicated such financial relief would depend on continuing Iranian compliance.
“We have control of money that they claim is theirs. We’ll keep control of that money,” he said. “When they behave properly, and when they do what’s right, we’ll let them have their money.”
Trump offered those comments after being asked whether he was considering easing sanctions and allowing Iran to export oil more freely.
His latest comments may reflect a remaining hurdle to a final deal.
Over the weekend, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the emerging memorandum of understanding would include the end of hostilities, the removal of a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, and the easing of sanctions to free up blocked Iranian assets.