Iran aide demands $24bn for peace, claims 'first victory' over US.

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has asserted that peace negotiations between Iran and the United States are at an impasse, primarily due to the United States' refusal to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets [3, 5, 8, 14, 18, 19]. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Rezaei stated that the Trump administration must take action to break this deadlock, placing the responsibility squarely on President Donald Trump's shoulders [3, 5, 8, 14, 18, 19]. He framed the demand for the release of these funds as a crucial "test of trust" for the US, emphasizing that the money rightfully belongs to Iran and is not a concession from Washington [3, 5, 8, 14]. Rezaei controversially declared that Iran views the ongoing conflict with the US as its "first time emerging victorious" in the 47-year history of the Islamic Republic, suggesting this outcome has fundamentally altered Tehran's negotiation stance [4]. He further warned of severe repercussions should hostilities resume, stating that Iran would expand the conflict's geographical scope beyond the Persian Gulf. Potential escalation points include the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Ocean, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea [3, 8, 14]. Despite these dire warnings, Rezaei expressed a belief that the possibility of war remains low [3]. The demand for the release of frozen assets is a significant point of contention. Iran is reportedly seeking the immediate release of $12 billion upon the signing of an interim agreement, with the remaining $12 billion to be unfrozen at a later stage [3, 5, 14]. Sources indicate that these frozen assets, estimated to be around $100 billion globally, are held in various countries including China, India, Japan, Qatar, and Iraq [6]. US officials, however, are reportedly concerned that releasing these funds prematurely would diminish their leverage over Iran [14]. The possibility of a direct meeting between President Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been dismissed by Rezaei [4, 5, 14]. He stated that such a meeting would not occur at this stage, as negotiations are in their initial phase and have been brought to a standstill by Trump [4, 14]. This statement comes despite Trump's previous remarks about being "honoured" to meet the Iranian leader [4, 26]. Furthermore, the context of this standoff is the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, which began in June 2026 following Israeli strikes against Iran [10, 25]. The conflict reportedly led to the death of Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, with Mojtaba Khamenei subsequently appointed as his successor [10, 20, 25]. The situation is further complicated by regional security concerns, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran claims to jointly manage with Oman [3, 19]. The Hindustan Times article, while reporting these statements, frames them within the context of the ongoing war and the stalled peace negotiations. The claim of a "first victory" is a provocative assertion, and the demand for $24 billion in frozen assets is presented as a key obstacle. The article accurately reflects the statements made by Mohsen Rezaei as reported by CNN and other outlets, and the core claims regarding the asset freeze and the warning of wider conflict are corroborated by multiple sources [3, 5, 8, 14, 18, 19]. The claim about Iran's "first victory" is a subjective interpretation by Rezaei rather than a universally accepted fact. Regarding the news category, this story falls under international relations and geopolitical conflict, with significant implications for global politics and economics. The specific context of the US-Iran conflict makes it a major international news item. The relevance to India is that of a significant global event impacting regional stability, energy markets, and international relations, which are of keen interest to India.

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