U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday pointed to food shortages in Iran and suggested the country could become a new market for U.S. agricultural exports. He stated that frozen Iranian assets would be used to purchase American farm products for Iran.
“We have a new market coming up, Iran. They’re having a hard time with food, and we’re going to be taking some of their money, and we’ll spend it, and we’re going to be buying wheat, soybeans, and corn, a lot of it, and that process is going to be starting soon. It’s going to be big,” Trump stated.
Iran, however, rejected the claim, with chief negotiator MB Ghalibaf calling it false. The remarks come as Iran expects to gain access to up to $24 billion in frozen assets held in the United States under the ongoing U.S.–Iran negotiations. The draft memorandum of understanding between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly indicates that the funds could be released prior to the signing of a final agreement to end the conflict.
Trump’s remarks appeared to be aimed at farmers rather than signalling the direction of the ongoing U.S.–Iran negotiations. Although American farmers have largely remained supportive of Trump, many have faced financial challenges during his second term. His administration ended several federal programs that purchased agricultural products for distribution through government initiatives and also halted U.S. foreign aid programs that sourced food from American farmers for humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected and low-income countries.
While Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claim, Iran continues to face a worsening food crisis. According to The Guardian, food price inflation has surged since the onset of the U.S.–Israel conflict, with vegetable oil prices rising by 308%, chicken by 190%, and rice by 170%.
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