Trump administration weighs $300 billion fund if Iran ceasefire holds - report

The fund would depend on Iran's compliance with a final US ceasefire deal and seek to draw investment into Iran's rich energy resources.

US President Donald Trump speaks next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House, in Washington, DC, US, May 27, 2026.

(photo credit: Evan Vucci/REUTERS)

ByARIELLA ROITMAN

JUNE 16, 2026 03:39

Updated: JUNE 16, 2026 04:20

The Trump administration is exploring creation of a $300 billion investment fund for Iran provided Tehran follows through on a ceasefire pact that incorporates a nuclear agreement, according to a Monday Financial Times report.

The financial incentives would link directly to Iran's adherence to the memorandum of understanding to be signed by Washington and Tehran in Switzerland on Friday, the report noted.

Fund linked to nuclear agreement

Creation of the fund would hinge on a final settlement that features a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and additional nuclear negotiations, said the FT, citing a person briefed on the talks.

The fund would aim to draw investment into Iran's abundant energy resources. "There is interest from a lot of businesses in Europe, a lot in Asia, South Korea, Japan, etc., and American companies and businesses as well," the person said. "If the sanctions are lifted, this fund would be a significant amount, and it will be huge."

US Vice President JD Vance told CBS News that the fund would be "the sort of thing [Iran] could have access to so long as they honor their end of the obligation."

Trump was highly critical of former US President Barack Obama's signing of a 2015 nuclear accord that provided Tehran with sanctions relief, accusing his administration of sending "pallets of cash," according to the FT. Critics of the MoU said the funds under discussion would amount to "far more" than those under Obama's administration, it added.

Trump allies push back

Alex Bruesewitz, a political consultant and one of Trump's advisors, clarified that the fund is not an "unconditional handout" but rather a "conditional incentive or, in simpler terms, a 'carrot'" in a post on X/Twitter on Tuesday.

"The aim [of the fund] would be to create deep economic ties and mutual interdependence that make future conflict far more costly for all sides and demonstrate that choosing peace delivers greater long-term benefits than continuing to back terrorism," he said.

"The story that the US is paying Iran 300 million dollars is fake news," said Trump in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, claiming that the "fake news" was created by the democrats.

A US senior official told reporters on Monday that "zero" dollars have flowed to Iran, according to the FT report.

Any sanctions relief would be phased and dependent on nuclear talks and the final settlement, it added.

Trump administration officials have previously said that the US would offer "small gestures" of financial relief in order to build trust throughout negotiations.