Trump Claims Iran Assets Released to Buy US Products

US President Donald Trump/DOK White House

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump claims that the financial assets of Iran currently being held are being liquidated as part of negotiations, the funds will be allocated to buy agricultural products from American farmers.

Earlier that day, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license for the sale of Iranian crude oil and petrochemical products until August 21, which further allows their import into the US as long as necessary for the sale, shipment, or unloading of these goods.

"If sanctions are lifted, money will come into this country. All of these funds will return to this country through the purchase of food that they desperately need," Trump told reporters when asked about lifting the sanctions.

"The money we withdraw will be given to our farmers, mostly to our farmers," he added.

Asked further about how his government would ensure the Islamic Republic would not use the revenue from oil sales to rebuild its military, the president said "we'll see".

"They shouldn't be doing that... they should be using that money to buy food for their people... they're buying it openly from us: corn, soybeans. That should be a lot of money," Trump added.

Last week, Iran and the US signed a memorandum remotely which regulates the end of the military conflict which began on February 28.

The document also sets a deadline for the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and for Iran to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Negotiations between Iran and the US, with Pakistani and Qatari mediators, were held at the Burgenstock resort, Switzerland, on June 21.