President Donald Trump said Monday evening that Iran will not use profits from oil sales to rebuild its military, dismissing a reporter's concern, and instead will use the money to buy food for its people. The comment, reported by Israeli media, adds a new dimension to the administration's Iran policy amid ongoing negotiations.
President Donald Trump stated Monday evening that Iran would not use revenue from oil sales — currently unfrozen as part of ongoing US-Iran negotiations — to rebuild its military, but rather to purchase food for its people. The remark came in response to a reporter's question, as quoted by Israeli media.
The statement follows a pattern of Trump administration messaging on Iranian funds: earlier on Monday, Trump said frozen Iranian funds slated for release would be used exclusively to buy food from American farmers — a claim Iran's official news agency called a complete lie. In prior weeks, Trump had said Iran's military was 'gone' and its economy 'broken,' while insisting the US would not pay for Iran's reconstruction.
The exchange underscores a persistent tension in the administration's stance: projecting confidence in the deal's effects while hedging on enforcement. No confirmation of a signed agreement has been issued, and Iran has denied reports of a concluded deal. The new comment adds to the evolving picture of what the US expects in return for unfreezing assets.
4 developments
- DevelopingIran’s central bank chief: We are not committed to buying US agricultural goods
- StrongTrump denies US paying Iran $300 billion, calls claim 'fake news'
- DevelopingTrump reportedly set to grant Iran major financial relief within days, per Israeli media
- DevelopingReporter asks Trump if Iran will use oil revenue to rebuild army; Trump responds
Source and signal
- Internal intake