Trump says will not unfreeze Iranian assets before ceasefire deal reached

United States President Donald Trump has said he will not unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets prior to a lasting ceasefire agreement being reached to formally end the US-Israel war with Iran.

Trump made the statement in an interview on the NBC News programme Meet the Press that aired on Sunday, indicating little room in the entrenched standoff over the frozen funds.

The US president said any unfreezing of Iranian assets “comes after” a deal is reached.

“If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking,” he said.

Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated that any deal could be contingent on the at least partial unfreezing of Tehran’s frozen assets, citing widespread mistrust of US negotiations.

The US twice launched military operations against Iran amid ongoing talks on its nuclear programme, a fact many analysts say has made Iranian officials wary in the ongoing ceasefire talks.

Trump has for weeks said a possible breakthrough was within reach, although there has been little sign of major shifts on key issues, including future control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme, and the frozen assets.

Amid the diplomatic flurries, Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with renewed strikes. He continued the approach in the interview with NBC, which was filmed in a barn during a trip the president made to Wisconsin on Friday.