U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s billions of dollars in frozen assets will not be released until a permanent ceasefire agreement formally ends the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump stated that the release of Iranian funds would only be considered after a deal is signed and if Tehran demonstrates good behavior. He also warned that the U.S. is either very close to a deal or prepared to launch a severe attack.

Iranian officials have indicated that without partial release of the frozen assets, a ceasefire agreement may not be possible. Iran’s state media reported that Tehran is demanding the release of 12 to 24 billion dollars as part of the deal, describing it as a test of trust. The frozen assets, estimated at over 100 billion dollars, have been held in foreign banks due to international sanctions.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, tensions remain high. Iran’s parliament speaker warned of possible retaliation for Israeli strikes in Beirut and U.S. naval blockades, while a U.S. official told Al Jazeera that Washington holds Hezbollah fully responsible for the Lebanon conflict.