U.S.-Iran Talks Face Economic Compensation Hurdle, Official Says

According to CNN, a U.S. official familiar with the negotiations stated that a major sticking point in the U.S.-Iran talks is the issue of economic compensation. According to Odaily, U.S. President Donald Trump is eager to secure a deal perceived as superior to the one reached during the Obama administration. The official noted that Iran has communicated to mediators its desire for immediate economic compensation once a preliminary memorandum of understanding is agreed upon, rather than delaying it to a future date. However, officials in the Trump administration are concerned that releasing funds too early could reduce the economic pressure on Iran, which serves as a crucial leverage for Washington. This leverage is considered vital for entering the second phase of negotiations, which will address the specifics of Iran's nuclear program. Trump has made it clear to his team that he wants any agreement to appear much tougher than the 2015 deal and to avoid any actions that could be interpreted as "delivering large sums of cash," a phrase he has used to criticize Obama's decision to provide economic compensation to Iran.