Trump: He'd take sanctions off Iran if they can be peaceful

Trump: He'd take sanctions off Iran if they can be peaceful

United States President Donald Trump has indicated that he could lift sanctions on Iran if the country demonstrates peaceful behavior and cooperation with Washington. This announcement comes amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table and address Iran's nuclear program.

In a recent Fox News interview, Trump stated, "If they can be peaceful, and if they can join us, they are not going to do any more harm, I would take the sanctions off." He further emphasized that sanctions relief "would make a big difference" for Tehran [1].

Trump's comments follow a series of military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite the strikes, the Trump administration has been exploring ways to ease tensions and potentially lift sanctions on Iran. According to CNN, the administration has discussed proposals that could include up to $30 billion in investment for a civilian nuclear program, easing sanctions, and freeing up billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds [2].

The proposals are preliminary and evolving, with a key non-negotiable condition being zero Iranian enrichment of uranium. However, some draft proposals include incentives such as removing sanctions and allowing Iran to access restricted funds. The US is willing to lead these talks but prefers its Arab partners to foot the bill for the nuclear program [2].

Trump has also indicated that he believes a nuclear agreement with Iran is not necessary, stating, "I don’t care if I have an agreement or not." However, his advisers believe pursuing a longer-term deal will ensure the ceasefire has longevity [2].

The Trump administration hopes that the recent military strikes will prompt Iran to accede to the US conditions and halt efforts that could bring it closer to developing a nuclear weapon. However, Iranian experts caution that the regime may now decide to pursue a nuclear weapon [2].

References:

[1] https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250630-trump-says-iran-sanctions-can-be-lifted-if-they-can-be-peaceful/
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/politics/us-iran-talks-nuclear-program