US President Donald Trump reiterated on June 5 that no frozen Iranian assets will be released and no sanctions will be lifted before a formal peace deal with Iran is signed. He added any unfreezing would happen only if Iran behaves properly, stating, "Comes after. Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah." [1, 2]
Trump confirmed the US and Israeli campaign of strikes against Iran began on February 28, 2026. [1, 3] He said the strikes have targeted Iranian drone and radar sites, while Iran retaliated with ballistic missile attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain on June 6. [4]
The president said he was willing to speak directly with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been out of public view since being reportedly wounded in the US strikes: "I don’t want to say whether or not I know where [Khamenei] is, but there’s a good probability that I do." [1, 5, 3]
Trump noted he is not insisting that Lebanon be part of any short-term peace deal with Iran, saying, "I think they'd like to see [Lebanon in the deal], but I'm not demanding." [1]
Iran reportedly demands the release of $12 billion to $24 billion in frozen assets as part of a ceasefire or peace deal. [2, 6, 3, 4] Iran’s frozen assets worldwide are estimated at over $100 billion, held due to US and international sanctions. [2, 4] Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaee said negotiations were at a deadlock and urged Trump to break the impasse, adding, "If the US wants a deal, $24 billion is not much for them. This is our own money, not America's." [2, 3]
Some US officials have said a temporary ceasefire remains in place despite recent strikes. [1, 3] The US is reportedly considering using some frozen Iranian assets to compensate Gulf allies for damages caused by Iran's attacks. [4] Approximately 50,000 US troops are involved in the ongoing conflict. [5]
On June 7, a Pakistani official delivered a special letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader aimed at preserving space for a temporary agreement. [4]
The US military action continues amid the high tensions following recent attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and retaliations by Iran. Further negotiations and potential progress toward a peace deal remain closely watched.
