Trump open to Iran sanctions relief, frozen fund release for nuclear progress
Trump is open to Iran sanctions relief and releasing frozen funds if Tehran shows concrete nuclear progress, per CNN. Talks continue through mediators, with crude and defense names in focus.
President Donald Trump is open to easing sanctions on Iran and releasing frozen funds, but only if Tehran delivers real movement on the nuclear file. A US official told CNN Monday that Trump is willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release frozen funds as part of a final deal, but only if Tehran offers “concrete progress” on the nuclear issue, as mediators try to bring both countries back to the negotiating table.
What the White House is signaling
The US official said Washington is having “positive and constructive discussions through the mediators,” though there will not be a deal unless nuclear issues are addressed.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading the talks on the US side, according to the official.
Trump rejected Iran’s latest offer
Trump on Saturday rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it “unacceptable.” On Sunday, Trump told Axios that he expects more talks with Iran to occur this week.
“They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make,” the president said.
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Why the trust gap matters
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday that Trump rejected the proposal because he did not believe Iran was negotiating in good faith, arguing it was unacceptable that Tehran was “asking for everything up front.”
The US official reiterated Waltz’s point that Washington is skeptical of Iran’s promises, given the country violated the US-Iran memorandum of understanding reached in July by firing on commercial vessels. That skepticism is what keeps a near-term breakthrough — and any oil-market relief valve — uncertain.
Options market and stocks to watch
Iran headlines tend to move crude, defense, and tanker names first. A credible path to sanctions relief would put more Iranian barrels back on the global market, while any breakdown keeps the Strait of Hormuz risk premium alive.
- USO: Watch for crude oil volatility on any tape-bomb around talks, mediator progress, or fresh Hormuz threats.
- XOM and CVX: Integrated majors are the cleanest large-cap read on any shift in Iran supply expectations.
- LMT and RTX: Defense primes tend to trade off the tone of Iran diplomacy; watch flow if talks stall or Hormuz risk re-escalates.
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