Trump Administration Promotes Iran Deal as Major Boost for US Farmers, Tehran Pushes Back
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are touting their interim Iran deal as a financial win for American farmers, claiming that billions in frozen Iranian assets will be used to purchase US crops. Tehran, however, denies such an arrangement exists.
The tentative agreement reached last week would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow Iran to resume oil sales during a 60‑day negotiating period. It also promised to unfreeze Iranian assets — and the Trump administration says those funds will buy food and medical supplies exclusively from US producers.
“The United States Treasury will release Iranian assets into escrow, controlled by the USA, and will be used for the purchase of food and medical supplies, exclusively from the United States, including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American farmers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
But Iranian officials flatly reject that account. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said any agricultural purchases would be based on “prices and quality,” not US‑dictated terms. “It is interesting that the philosophy and goal of the war… has become enriching American farmers,” he said.
Iran’s ambassador in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, rejected Vance’s contention that the US would control how Iran uses its funds. “Iran is the only country who decides what to do with those assets,” he said.
A US official dismissed the contradiction as domestic messaging by Iranian leaders.
Experts remain skeptical. Joseph Glauber, a research fellow emeritus at the International Food Policy Research Institute, noted that Iran’s major food suppliers include Brazil, India, Turkiye, the EU, Canada, and Australia — and that forcing US purchases would strain trade relationships.
Columbia University’s Richard Nephew said the US could, in theory, pressure banks to restrict Iranian funds to American purchases, but banks could refuse, and such a move would be rare. “We don’t usually like to give the impression that we treat national security issues as a cash grab,” he said.
The deal has also drawn criticism for failing to address Trump’s original war objectives: curbing Iran’s nuclear program, missile development, and support for militant groups. Meanwhile, Vance told reporters the arrangement could bring “billions of dollars” to US farmers, but offered no specifics on implementation.
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