Trump Pushes for Iran Reconstruction Fund Involving South Korean Companies

The Donald Trump administration in the United States is reportedly considering a plan to establish a reconstruction fund worth $300 billion (approximately 454 trillion won), primarily driven by private companies, if Iran agrees to a final peace agreement that includes nuclear negotiations.

While the U.S. has emphasized its stance of not providing funds to Iran in exchange for an agreement, practical financial support would effectively be delivered under the guise of a private investment fund.

In Iran, some are claiming that this fund represents war reparations from the United States.

The Financial Times (FT) reported on June 15 (local time), citing a senior U.S. official, that the easing of sanctions against Iran and the creation of a $300 billion reconstruction fund were discussed during the peace negotiations.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance also virtually acknowledged the discussions on the reconstruction fund during an interview with CBS, saying, "If Iran fulfills its obligations, they will have access to it."

The FT, citing a source familiar with the discussions, reported that the reconstruction fund will only be established once a final agreement, which specifies the fund as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), is reached.

Under the MOU, the U.S. and Iran agreed to first reopen the Strait of Hormuz before continuing negotiations for a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program and the easing of sanctions against Iran.

This means that if the fund is eventually established, it will be after the Strait of Hormuz is normalized, the nuclear agreement is finalized, and an ultimate end to the conflict is reached.

The FT reported that the fund would be established not by governments, but by companies wishing to invest in Iran's energy sector, adding that the fund's operational structure remains unclear.

A source familiar with the negotiations told the FT, "Companies from Europe, Asia, South Korea, and Japan, as well as U.S. firms, are interested," adding, "If sanctions are lifted, this fund will be of a substantial scale."

However, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed claims that the U.S. plans to provide reconstruction funds to Iran.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on the same day, Trump countered, "Iran agreed never to have Nuclear Weapons. Also, the story that the U.S. is paying Iran $300 Million is Fake News spread by the Democrats."

In his post, Trump wrote the amount to be provided to Iran as $300 million, which appears to be a typo for the $300 billion reconstruction fund reported by foreign media.

In connection with this, the U.S. political media outlet The Hill reported, "Trump questioned the creation of a $300 billion Iranian reconstruction fund that Iran would receive as part of a peace deal with the U.S.," and stated that it had requested comment from the White House on its precise stance.

Whether the U.S. is funding Iran in exchange for ending the conflict has been a point of controversy throughout the negotiation process.

This is a politically sensitive issue, especially since Trump has previously criticized the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) signed under former President Barack Obama, pointing out that cash payments were made.

Trump has been extremely reluctant to make it appear as though compensation is being provided to Iran, consistently emphasizing that "it is different from Obama's time" and "no money is changing hands this time."

However, some point out that the financial incentives currently under discussion could exceed the levels agreed upon during the Obama administration.

The FT, citing sources familiar with the discussions, reported that under the MOU, any lifting of sanctions—including Iranian assets frozen abroad—will take place in phases, depending on the progress of nuclear negotiations and a final agreement.

U.S. officials also explained that small-scale financial relief would be provided in the initial stages as a trust-building measure, with phased relief measures implemented depending on the progress of future negotiations.

A senior official told the FT, "Sanctions relief is absolutely not tied to specific actions," adding, "It is generally linked to whether Iran behaves appropriately, and what we care about most is the nuclear program."

Earlier, Iran also mentioned the $300 billion reconstruction fund to be established by the U.S. when sharing details of the MOU with the United States.

Mehdi Mohammadi, strategic advisor to the chief advisor of the Iranian negotiating team, claimed the previous day through Iran's Mehr News Agency that the reconstruction fund has the character of war reparations.

He said, "Although the word 'compensation' is not explicitly mentioned, it is clear that when the other side talks about reconstruction, it means compensation for the damage Iran suffered during the war."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.