Iran Closes Door on Meeting, Negotiations Enter Push-and-Pull Mode
The possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is "not going to happen," Mohsen Rezaei, Khamenei's military adviser, told CNN on Friday (June 5). This statement signals that the highest-level diplomatic channels remain closed, even though Washington had previously entertained the idea of a meeting if a peace deal is reached.
Rezaei emphasized that a peace deal is contingent on the US willingness to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. He called the "ball in Trump's court," putting pressure on Washington to make financial concessions as a key condition for progress in negotiations.
In the interview, Rezaei also did not answer questions about Khamenei's health and the extent of his role in decision-making, according to CNN. This lack of clarity adds another layer of uncertainty to the negotiations, which have already stalled several times.
Market Impact: This headline tends to maintain risk premiums by emphasizing the point of contention (the asset freeze) and reducing expectations of a quick breakthrough. This typically supports oil through supply risks, keeping the dollar relatively strong as a safe haven, while gold can benefit from the risk premium but remains sensitive to the direction of US yields/interest rates. (Arl)
Source: Newsmaker.id
