Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة تقترح خطة للتجارة الزراعية مع إيران

The United States has unveiled a spending strategy for unfrozen Iranian assets as negotiations to finalize a deal to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East progress. President Donald Trump’s administration asserts that the released funds will be utilized to purchase U.S. agricultural products, which will then be sent to Iran. According to Al Jazeera, this could potentially inject $12 billion into the severely limited trade relations between the two nations.

Historically, the U.S. and Iran have transitioned from being close trading partners to adversaries over the last fifty years. The proposed plan, however, raises questions about its feasibility and the extent to which both countries agree on the terms. After initial discussions in Switzerland, Iranian negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf indicated that an agreement had been reached to release $12 billion in frozen assets. Conversely, U.S. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that these funds would specifically benefit American farmers by facilitating purchases of agricultural goods.

Despite U.S. assertions, Iran has not confirmed this agreement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the released assets would be used freely by Iran to acquire necessary goods, asserting that any agricultural purchases would not be dictated by U.S. terms. Iran’s ambassador in Geneva also reiterated that the nation would decide independently how to utilize the assets.

Experts suggest that the proposal may face significant hurdles, as many in Congress oppose the Iran deal, and multinational companies may be hesitant to engage in trade due to political risks. The potential for agricultural purchases exists, but analysts caution that Iran is unlikely to create a long-term dependence on U.S. exports, even if initial transactions occur. The ongoing conflict complicates the situation further, with both sides prepared for potential escalations if negotiations falter.