Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, said a peace deal requires the U.S. to release $24 billion [1] in frozen assets.
The demand places a specific financial price on the cessation of hostilities. If the Trump administration refuses to unlock the funds, the resulting deadlock could trigger a wider regional conflict.
Rezaei said in an interview with CNN recorded in Tehran on June 5, 2026 [2], that the U.S. would "enter into a dark corridor" if it resumed fighting [3]. The adviser framed the release of the $24 billion [1] as the primary obstacle to a diplomatic resolution.
According to Rezaei, the current state of negotiations is deadlocked over these specific assets [4]. He said that the responsibility for ending the hostilities now rests with the U.S. president.
"The ball is in President Trump's court to end hostilities," Rezaei said [5].
The adviser said that failure to reach an agreement could lead the U.S. into a protracted and dangerous conflict. He said that the release of the funds is the only viable path to avoid a broader war [6].
Tehran has consistently urged the Trump administration to break the current deadlock to prevent further escalation in the region [7]. The request for the $24 billion [1] remains the central point of contention in these discussions.
“The United States would enter into a dark corridor if it resumed fighting.”
This ultimatum signals that Iran is linking its security guarantees and the cessation of regional hostilities directly to the recovery of its overseas capital. By framing the $24 billion as the sole barrier to peace, Tehran is attempting to shift the diplomatic burden and the risk of escalation onto the Trump administration.
