Iran Adds New Demands Before Implementing U.S. Deal

Iran has signaled that it will not implement the newly announced agreement with the United States unless additional conditions are met, deepening the diplomatic crisis. According to reports from Tehran, the Islamic Republic is now demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the release of about $12 billion in frozen funds. The move came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly announced that Washington had reached an agreement with Iran.

In his announcement, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened and that the U.S. naval blockade had been lifted, but he did not spell out all of America’s commitments under the deal. Iran’s Mehr news agency later published what it described as the full terms, saying the U.S. agreed to a complete halt to military activity on all fronts, the withdrawal of American forces from areas near Iran’s borders, and a pledge not to interfere in the Islamic Republic’s internal affairs.

On the economic side, the reported deal includes an immediate suspension of sanctions and the freezing of Iranian assets. Tehran now says those frozen funds must be fully released before the agreement can be carried out. The money is said to total roughly $12 billion held in Western banks.

Iranian state television celebrated the announcement, with regime spokespeople mocking Trump and saying, “America was forced to sign an agreement to end the war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the resistance front.” They also claimed Trump asked the Iranians to show “restraint” regarding Israeli activity in Beirut and promised to secure an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Tensions between Washington and Jerusalem also sharpened after Trump attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with The New York Times. Trump said, “He is a very difficult guy, and frankly he should thank us a lot. Because if Iran had nuclear weapons, Israel would not survive two hours.”