Trump says Iran sanctions relief will aid US farmers

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that any sanctions relief granted to Iran would largely benefit American farmers, asserting that the Islamic Republic's population of over 90 million faces severe food insecurity and would use unfrozen funds to purchase US agricultural exports. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump framed the economic arrangement as a domestic victory while warning Tehran that failure to honor its commitments under a newly signed memorandum would draw serious consequences.

Agricultural purchases

Trump insisted that any money unlocked by lifting sanctions would flow back to the United States in the form of food purchases. "If the sanctions go out, money is going to be put into this country," he said. "All that money is coming back in the form of purchases of food, which they desperately need … The money that we lift is going to go to our farmers, largely to our farmers." He noted that Iran's 90 million people are facing severe food shortages and would rely on American agricultural imports to meet domestic needs.

Hormuz shipping record

The president declared the Strait of Hormuz "totally open" on Monday, stating that Washington had recorded its highest-ever single-day oil transit through the strategic waterway on Sunday. "We took in more oil yesterday than we've ever, that has ever gone through the strait," he said, adding that naval restrictions had proven more effective than military strikes. "We'll see how that all goes, but we have two things: we have an open Strait, and we have a country that will never have a nuclear weapon," Trump stated. "I think the blockade was more impactful than dropping bombs."

Warnings on commitments

Trump issued a direct warning to Iranian leaders regarding their obligations under the emerging nuclear understanding, stating Washington would respond forcefully to any violations. "If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do," he said. On Lebanon, the president dismissed concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to withdraw troops from the country, stating, "I'm a problem solver, I get problems solved real fast, including with Bibi."

60-day negotiation window

The remarks follow the remote signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran last week, launching a 60-day negotiating period to resolve longstanding disputes over the fate of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and its nuclear program. The document mandates an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, the removal of the naval blockade on Iran, and safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. It also includes a reconstruction and economic development plan for Iran valued at a minimum of $300 billion, oil export waivers, the release of Iran's frozen assets abroad, and a reaffirmation by Tehran that it will not develop nuclear weapons.