The possibility of sanctions relief for Iran remains unlikely for now, as US President Donald Trump has said that his administration will not lift economic sanctions or release frozen Iranian assets until a final agreement is reached. He also clarified that including Lebanon in a short-term deal with Tehran is not a condition set by the United States.
Speaking in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump said any relaxation of sanctions would only happen after Iran agrees to a deal and fulfills its commitments. When asked whether sanctions relief could come before an agreement, Trump replied that discussions would begin only if Iran “behaves” and follows through on its promises.
The comments come as the Trump administration continues efforts to negotiate a possible agreement with Iran amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The United States and Israel have been carrying out military operations against Iran since February 28.
Trump also said that while some parties may want Lebanon included in a future arrangement, he is not making it a requirement.
Regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, Trump said any future deal should do more than simply prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. He stated that negotiators had largely agreed on restrictions related to nuclear weapons but that a few issues still remained unresolved.
According to Trump, the agreement should ensure that Iran cannot develop, acquire or purchase nuclear weapons or related capabilities. He claimed that Iranian negotiators were initially reluctant to accept some proposals but later became more open to them.
Trump also warned that the US military remains ready to act if diplomacy fails. He said that if a deal is reached, Washington would cooperate with Iran to remove and destroy highly enriched uranium. However, he stressed that the United States would take a different approach if negotiations break down.
He stated that under a successful agreement, both countries could work together to dispose of the uranium stockpile. At the same time, he warned that military action remains an option if no deal is achieved.
Iran, however, has repeatedly rejected Trump’s claims that it is willing to transfer its enriched uranium. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said last month that Iran’s uranium would not be transferred anywhere and that such a proposal had never been discussed during negotiations.
Before the US strikes in June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran possessed around 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, far above the limits set under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the exact location of that uranium stockpile has remained uncertain. Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors to revisit the affected sites, leaving questions about the material unanswered.