$24bn 'trust test' for Trump? Khamenei aide seeks frozen assets, warns US of wider war

Representative image (AI)

As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran depends on the Trump administration agreeing to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.In an interview with CNN, Rezaei said: "The negotiations are at a deadlock and (US President Donald) Trump must break this deadlock. The ball is in Trump's court."His remarks come amid efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran following months of military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. While both sides have indicated an interest in avoiding a broader regional conflict, significant differences remain over the terms of any agreement.According to Rezaei, Iran has proposed that $12 billion in frozen assets be released immediately after an interim agreement is signed, with a further $12 billion to follow at a later stage. He described the proposal as a test of trust between the two countries.

'A test of trust'

Rezaei argued that releasing the funds would signal a new phase in relations between Washington and Tehran."If he (Trump) wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of trust that Iran wants to have with Trump – this is a test that America must pass and the path will be opened.

This is our own money, not America's money," he said. The demand, however, is likely to face resistance in Washington. US officials have expressed concern that releasing frozen funds at this stage could weaken one of the key pressure points available to the United States during negotiations.Trump has repeatedly criticised the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former US President Barack Obama and has sought a framework that would be viewed as significantly tougher than the previous agreement.

Warning against renewed conflict

During the interview, Rezaei warned against any return to military confrontation, saying Iran would expand the scope of its response if attacked again."We will give another dimension to the war by attacking these other American bases that we have been attacking so far," he said.He suggested that any future conflict could spread beyond the Persian Gulf and potentially affect strategic waterways including the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

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Despite the warning, Rezaei added that he believed the likelihood of a new war remained low.Rezaei also dismissed suggestions that a meeting between Trump and Khamenei could take place in the near future."This will not happen, right now we are in the first stage of negotiations and Mr Trump has brought the negotiations to a standstill. This will not happen," he said.His comments came days after Trump said he would be "honoured" to meet the Iranian leader and claimed the two sides appeared to be "getting along well".

Strait of Hormuz and regional influence

The veteran Iranian official also reiterated Tehran's longstanding position regarding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.He said Iran and Oman share sovereignty over the waterway and should jointly manage it. Rezaei also suggested that Iran should not be expected to bear the financial burden of maintaining the route alone and proposed charging what he described as maintenance fees for its management.The Strait of Hormuz remains critically strategic passage, with a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it.Rezaei is considered one of the most influential figures within Iran's security establishment. A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' old guard, he fought during the Iran-Iraq War and served as commander of the IRGC between 1981 and 1997.He later joined the Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader, served as vice president under former president Ebrahim Raisi and unsuccessfully contested several presidential elections.While discussing prospects for diplomacy, Rezaei expressed scepticism about the durability of any future agreement with the United States.He cited Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement and accused Washington of pursuing a strategy of ambiguity during negotiations.Rezaei said Iran was prepared for a possible military confrontation in case no negotiation is reached."If the United States invades Iran, then the world will understand Iran's true capabilities, because our land power is many times greater than our missiles," he said.Rezaei also claimed that the recent conflict marked a historic turning point for Iran."This is the first time Iran has emerged victorious in wars, while in previous wars Iran has always been defeated," he said.