President Donald Trump said Monday he cannot guarantee that Iran will not use profits from oil sales to rebuild its military [1].
The statement comes as the U.S. attempts to ensure that oil revenues do not fund Iranian military capabilities following the recent war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran [1, 2].
During a press briefing in Washington, D.C., Trump was asked if he could provide a guarantee that the funds would be kept away from military spending [1]. When pressed on the matter, Trump said, "We'll see" [2].
Trump said the money from these oil sales was expected to be used to purchase American agricultural products [2, 3]. This potential trade arrangement would theoretically tie Iranian revenue to U.S. commerce, rather than defense procurement [2].
However, an Iranian central banker challenged this narrative. The official said that Iran is under no obligation to buy American agricultural products [1].
This contradiction highlights a gap between the White House's expectations and the Iranian government's stated position. While the U.S. administration views the purchase of farm goods as a likely destination for the funds, Iranian officials have said they reject any requirement to do so [1, 2].
“"We'll see."”
The disagreement between the U.S. and Iran over the use of oil revenues underscores the fragility of post-war stability. If Iran refuses to commit funds to U.S. agricultural imports, the U.S. lacks a verified mechanism to prevent the money from flowing back into military infrastructure, potentially reigniting regional tensions.
