---
title: "Deadlock over $24 Billion: Iran Issues Ultimatum to Trump on Asset Unfreezing"
description: "US-Iran negotiations have hit a deadlock over $24 billion in frozen assets. Military advisor to the Ayatollah, Rezaee, issued an ultimatum to Trump: no deal without unfreezing the funds. Iran also warned of its readiness to expand the zone of military operations to the Mediterranean Sea. 🇮🇷🇺🇸💰"
date: 2026-06-05T21:40:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/deadlock-over-24-billion-iran-issues-ultimatum-to-trump-on-asset-unfreezing
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Deadlock over $24 Billion: Iran Issues Ultimatum to Trump on Asset Unfreezing

![Donald Trump in a contemplative pose against a blue backdrop, illustrating the tension of negotiations with Iran over unfreezing assets](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/06/irans-ultimatum-to-trump-over-24-billion-frozen-assets/irans-ultimatum-to-trump-over-24-billion-frozen-assets-1.webp)

The negotiation process between Washington and Tehran, which seemed close to a breakthrough, has suddenly hit a hard financial obstacle. The key factor blocking the peace deal is the frozen Iranian assets totaling $24 billion. This was stated by Mohsen Rezaee, military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an interview with CNN.

### Financial Ultimatum

According to Rezaee, the fate of a potential agreement depends entirely on the will of the Donald Trump administration. The Iranian official stated directly that the ball is now in the American president's court. Tehran views the unblocking of funds as a test of trust, without which further dialogue is impossible.

Iranian demands are clearly structured: $12 billion must be unfrozen immediately after signing an interim deal, and the remaining $12 billion at a later stage. Rezaee emphasized the principled nature of Iran's position, noting that this concerns the country's own funds, not financial aid from the US.

### Washington's Position and Escalation Risks

US officials, in turn, are showing caution. In Washington, there is fear that premature unfreezing of funds will deprive the US of a key lever of pressure on the Iranian regime. Furthermore, Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that any new agreement must be significantly stronger and more reliable than the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US previously withdrew.

Mohsen Rezaee did not hide that Iran is prepared for an escalation scenario. He warned that in the event of a resumption of conflict, Tehran is ready to "drag the war" beyond the Persian Gulf. The zone of potential military operations could include the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Ocean, the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and the Red and Mediterranean Seas.

### Strait of Hormuz and Sovereignty

Separately, Rezaee addressed the issue of control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. He stated that sovereignty over this waterway belongs to Iran and Oman. At the same time, Tehran does not plan to introduce duties on ship passage but intends to charge a fee for maintaining the strait in proper condition.

### Doubts About Deal Reliability

Despite recent statements by Donald Trump about the possibility of concluding a deal as early as next week, the Iranian side is skeptical. Rezaee expressed doubt about the longevity of any agreement with Trump, citing his past experience of withdrawing from the nuclear deal and his strategy of "uncertainty" in negotiations.

The question of a personal meeting between Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader was also closed. Rezaee rejected such a prospect, stating that it "will not happen," and added that Trump has "hit a dead end".

### Readiness for Invasion

Summarizing the situation, the Supreme Leader's advisor noted that Iran is prepared for a potential US invasion of its territory in the event of negotiation failure. At the same time, he presented the current phase of the conflict as Iran's first victory over its enemies in the 47-year history of the Islamic Republic.

Against the backdrop of these statements, a resolution against war with Iran was passed in the US House of Representatives. Notably, for the first time, four Republicans supported Democrats in an attempt to limit the president's powers on this issue.