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As conflict escalates in the Middle East, Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran depends on the Trump administration agreeing to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.In an interview with CNN, Rezai said: “The talks are at an impasse and (US President Donald) Trump must break this impasse. The ball is in Trump’s court.”His comments come amid efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran after months of military confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States. Although both sides have expressed an interest in avoiding broader regional conflict, significant differences remain over the terms of any agreement.According to Rezaei, Iran has proposed that $12 billion of frozen assets be released immediately after the interim agreement is signed, with a further $12 billion to be released at a later stage. He described this proposal as a test of trust between the two countries.

‘Test of Trust’

Rezaei argued that releasing the funds would signal a new phase in relations between Washington and Tehran.He said, “If he (Trump) wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of the trust that Iran wants to have with Trump – this is a test that America has to pass and the door will be open. This is our own money, not America’s money.” However, this demand is likely to face resistance in Washington. US officials have expressed concern that releasing frozen funds at this stage could weaken one of the key pressure points available to the United States during negotiations.Trump has repeatedly criticized the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former US President Barack Obama and has sought a framework that would be considered significantly stricter than the previous agreement.

Warning against renewed conflict

During the interview, Rezaei warned against any return to military confrontation, saying Iran would increase the scope of its response if attacked again.“We will give another dimension to the war by attacking these other American targets that we have been attacking so far,” he said.They suggested that any future conflict could spill beyond the Persian Gulf and potentially affect strategic waterways including the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

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Despite the warning, Rezaei said he believed the likelihood of a new war was low.Rezaei also rejected suggestions that a meeting between Trump and Khamenei could take place in the near future.He said, “It will not happen, right now we are in the first phase of negotiations and Mr. Trump has stopped the negotiations. It will not happen.”His comments come days after Trump said he would be “honored” to meet the Iranian leader and claimed the two sides were “getting along very well.”

Strait of Hormuz and regional impact

The veteran Iranian official also reiterated Tehran’s long-term position regarding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.He said Iran and Oman share sovereignty over the waterway and should jointly manage it. Rezaei also suggested that Iran should not be expected to bear the financial burden of maintaining the route alone and proposed charging a maintenance fee for its management.The Strait of Hormuz remains a highly strategic passage, with a large portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it.Rezaei is considered one of the most influential figures in Iran’s security establishment. A member of the old guard of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he fought during the Iran–Iraq War and served as commander of the IRGC between 1981 and 1997.He later joined the Expediency Council, which advises the Supreme Leader, served as vice president under former President Ibrahim Raisi, and unsuccessfully ran in several presidential elections.Discussing the prospects for diplomacy, Rezai expressed doubts about the durability of any future agreement with the United States.He cited Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and accused Washington of adopting a strategy of ambiguity during negotiations.Rezaei said Iran was prepared for a possible military confrontation if talks did not take place.He said, “If the United States attacks Iran, the world will understand Iran’s true capabilities, because our land power is many times greater than our missiles.”Rezaei also claimed that the recent conflict marks a historic turning point for Iran.He said, “This is the first time that Iran has emerged victorious in wars, whereas in previous wars Iran has always lost.”