"No funds for terrorism": JD Vance outlines mechanism for potential release of Iranian assets
Burgenstock, June 22
United States Vice President JD Vance announced on Monday that any potential release of Iranian assets, as part of a wider diplomatic settlement, would include strict safeguards to ensure the capital cannot be diverted towards financing terrorism.
Following a series of high-level negotiations in Switzerland, Vance told reporters, "If we ever unfreeze Iranian assets, we can ensure that Iranian money goes to help the people of Iran and not to fund terrorism."
He detailed that discussions centred on establishing mechanisms to channel these funds exclusively towards the procurement of American agricultural goods, a strategy aimed at simultaneously aiding Iranian civilians and supporting US farmers.
Vance characterised the recent diplomatic engagement as a vital phase in reaching a comprehensive agreement between Washington and Tehran.
"The final deal is the house. We set the foundation. We haven't built the house, but we've laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people," he stated.
The Vice President, alongside Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, concluded an intensive round of talks in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, building upon a memorandum of understanding signed last week.
These proceedings were facilitated by representatives from Qatar and Pakistan.
Under a proposal developed by senior US negotiator Jared Kushner in coordination with Qatari officials, sanctions relief would be tied to the purchase of American agricultural commodities such as wheat, corn, and soybeans.
Vance emphasised the transparency of this proposed framework, stating, "If Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, they're going to go to make American farmers richer and to feed the Iranian people."
While joint statements issued by mediators reported "encouraging progress" on several fronts, the proceedings faced momentary turbulence due to public remarks by President Donald Trump.
Iranian state media noted that discussions were briefly suspended following an "insulting message" from the US President, who warned Tehran against continued support for Hezbollah operations in Lebanon and threatened further military intervention.
Despite this diplomatic friction, the senior US diplomat confirmed that the Iranian delegation remained on-site before eventually departing for Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that while headway had been made regarding the conflict in Lebanon, the ultimate success of the process hinges on the practical application of new security mechanisms.
Writing on X, Araghchi noted that mediators had reported "major progress" towards ending the hostilities.
As of Monday, the ceasefire, which began over the weekend, remained in effect, with no reports of Israeli strikes or Hezbollah attacks.
This pause represents the most significant cessation of hostilities since the escalation on 2 March.
The memorandum signed last week by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian provides a 60-day window for negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions, and asset recovery.
During the lead-up to these talks, President Pezeshkian maintained that Iran would not relinquish its position on uranium enrichment.
Technical teams are expected to remain in Switzerland to continue discussions in the coming days.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some sensible diplomacy. Using frozen assets to buy American wheat and corn is a win-win – it feeds Iranians and supports US farmers. I hope this leads to real peace in the Middle East, not just another temporary ceasefire.
As an Indian watching from the sidelines, I've seen how these 'safeguards' work. The US always finds a way to control the narrative. If they really cared about Iranian people, they'd just unfreeze the assets without conditions. But no, it's always about American farmers first.
Trump and Vance are playing chess while everyone else plays checkers. Tying asset release to agricultural purchases is brilliant – it prevents abuse while boosting the US economy. The brief suspension over Trump's 'insulting message' shows how fragile these talks are though.
Typical American foreign policy – using humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip. The 'foundation' metaphor from Vance is laughable. Meanwhile, what about the Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire? This 'house' seems to be built on sand, not solid ground. 😒
I'm cautiously optimistic. The 60-day window for nuclear negotiations is a good start. India has always advocated for dialogue over conflict. If Qatar and Pakistan are facilitating, there's hope for a balanced outcome. Just hope Trump doesn't derail it with his Twitter rants again.
A We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.