Trump defends sanctions relief, saying Iran will buy US food, medical supplies

Administration Trump defends sanctions relief, saying Iran will buy US food, medical supplies Comments: by Sarah Davis - 06/23/26 8:59 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 06/23/26 8:59 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump on Tuesday defended the U.S.’s new agreement with Iran, which opens the door to lifting sanctions on the country and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Money and/or Sanctions that the U.S. Treasury is releasing goes into escrow, controlled by the U.S.A., 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 in a Truth Social post.

“These are things that are desperately needed by Iran,” he continued. “This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to help, NOW, before it is too late.”

The president added that ongoing negotiations for a long-term peace deal with Iran “are going well!”

The Trump administration and Israel launched initial strikes on Iran in late February, amid faltering talks over a new nuclear deal. The newly signed memorandum of understanding reopens discussions to limit the country’s nuclear capabilities.

Vice President Vance said on Monday that Iran has agreed to invite the International Atomic Energy Agency back into the country during the first round of peace deal talks on Sunday — an international organization focused on promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The president echoed the sentiment in his post on Tuesday.

“Despite their protestations and false statements to the contrary, coupled with the drumbeat of the Fake News, which is doing everything possible to make the U.S. Victory as small and insignificant as possible, Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!),” Trump wrote, adding that this “will insure ‘Nuclear Honesty.’”

The new agreement also includes a provision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil trading corridor that has been effectively closed due to this conflict and a U.S. naval blockade in the waterway.

The reopening of this critical trading passage remains shaky, after Iran threatened to close it again citing recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Trump warned Tuesday that U.S. forces in the region are ready to reimpose the naval blockade in the strait if needed.

“I have agreed to allow the Hormuz Strait to remain OPEN, with no further Naval Blockade,” he wrote. “However, all ships are remaining in place should it be necessary to reinstitute the Blockade, which seems, at this point, highly unlikely.”