{"id":63337,"date":"2026-06-17T17:08:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T21:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-signals-conditional-sanctions-relief-as-iran-asserts-control-over-hormuz\/63337\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T17:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T21:08:11","slug":"trump-signals-conditional-sanctions-relief-as-iran-asserts-control-over-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-signals-conditional-sanctions-relief-as-iran-asserts-control-over-hormuz\/63337\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Signals Conditional Sanctions Relief as Iran Asserts Control Over Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>President Trump announced that the U.S. will release Iran\u2019s frozen funds and ease sanctions once &quot;they behave,&quot; following the digital signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Iran&#39;s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to &quot;pre-war conditions,&quot; asserting Iran&#39;s right to charge maritime service fees.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>A proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran is under discussion, contingent on Tehran meeting strict nuclear and security commitments during a 60-day negotiation window.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Global <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">oil prices<\/a> plummeted over 5%, with Brent crude falling to approximately $79 per barrel, as markets reacted to the potential reopening of the critical Hormuz shipping artery.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, Ghalibaf expressed deep distrust of the U.S., citing the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani as a primary reason for his initial reluctance to join talks.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>U.S. President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> signaled a potential shift in Middle Eastern policy on Wednesday, stating that the United States is prepared to unfreeze billions in Iranian assets and roll back crippling sanctions. Speaking to reporters, Trump emphasized that the relief is conditional, noting that while the money &quot;is their money,&quot; it will only be returned when Iran demonstrates a sustained change in behavior. This announcement follows the digital signing of a high-level memorandum of understanding between Trump, Vice President <strong>JD Vance<\/strong>, and Iranian Parliament Speaker <strong>Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement, often referred to as the &quot;Islamabad Memorandum,&quot; establishes a 60-day framework for formal negotiations aimed at a permanent end to hostilities. Central to the deal is the reopening of the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, which has been largely closed to commercial traffic since the conflict began in February 2026. While the U.S. insists the waterway must remain &quot;toll-free,&quot; Iranian officials have sparked concerns by suggesting they will implement &quot;maritime service fees&quot; for navigation and environmental protection.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf<\/strong> has been vocal about Iran&#39;s sovereign rights in the region, stating that &quot;enemies&#39; actions&quot; have turned Iran&#39;s potential in the Strait into a reality. He reiterated that while Iran will act within international maritime law, the Strait will not return to its pre-war status. <em>Market analysts warn that any permanent fee structure imposed by Tehran could set a dangerous legal precedent and increase long-term shipping costs for global energy markets.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The diplomatic thaw remains fragile, underscored by Ghalibaf&#39;s personal reluctance to negotiate with the Trump administration. The Speaker cited the 2020 assassination of <strong>Qasem Soleimani<\/strong> as a significant hurdle, noting he only accepted the role as a &quot;national duty&quot; after other candidates were rejected. He further cautioned that even a <strong>UN Security Council<\/strong> resolution would not guarantee U.S. compliance, asserting that Iran&#39;s &quot;own power&quot; remains its only true security guarantee.<\/p>\n<p>Financial markets reacted sharply to the news, with <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> and <strong>West Texas Intermediate (WTI)<\/strong> both seeing significant declines as the prospect of restored Iranian oil exports became tangible. The deal reportedly includes a <strong>$300 billion<\/strong> reconstruction plan involving international partners, though U.S. officials have been quick to label the framework a &quot;pay-for-performance&quot; deal. <em>The coming 60 days will be critical as negotiators attempt to resolve the fate of Iran&#39;s enriched <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/uranium\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"13\" title=\"Uranium\">uranium<\/a> and the permanent status of regional proxies.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways President Trump announced that the U.S. will release Iran\u2019s frozen funds and ease sanctions once &quot;they behave,&quot; following 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