'This Will Not Happen': Iran Rules Out Trump-Mojtaba Meeting as Nuclear Talks Remain Deadlocked

Tehran demands the release of $24 billion in frozen assets as a 'trust test' to break the current diplomatic impasse with the Trump administration.

Tehran has firmly dismissed the possibility of a direct encounter between US President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, declaring that any such high-level summit is currently off the table. As nuclear talks remain deadlocked, Iranian officials are placing the onus on Washington to revive the struggling diplomatic process, signaling that the path forward is blocked by a lack of fundamental trust.

The 'Trust Test' and Frozen Assets

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader and secretary of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, delivered a blunt assessment of the state of play in an interview this week. Rezaei stated that "this will not happen," referring to the rumored potential for a Trump-Khamenei meeting. According to Tehran, the primary obstacle to progress is the American refusal to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

"If Trump is serious about negotiations, then $24 billion is not a significant amount for America," Rezaei noted, framing the release of these funds as a litmus test for Washington’s sincerity. While the US has reportedly pushed for firmer nuclear commitments from Iran in an initial deal, Iranian leadership maintains that the money belongs to their nation and that the current stalemate is a direct result of US inaction.

Stalemate Amid Regional Tension

The diplomatic freeze coincides with a period of heightened regional volatility. Reports from the Middle East suggest that tensions are spilling over into direct military confrontations, with Kuwait recently reporting that seven missiles targeted its territory overnight. These developments have complicated the efforts of international observers attempting to mediate between the two nations. While some US officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, have emphasized that Mojtaba Khamenei remains active in Iranian governance, the Supreme Leader’s inner circle appears committed to a hardline stance until their economic demands are met.

A Fragile Path Forward

The standoff reflects a deeper, systemic lack of communication between the two powers. While President Trump has signaled a willingness to explore engagement, his administration is simultaneously pressuring Tehran for more concrete concessions on its nuclear program. By contrast, Iranian officials are characterising the process as a victory of endurance, asserting that the ball is now squarely in Trump’s court.

For now, the prospect of a breakthrough remains slim. With Tehran issuing warnings against further military escalation and the US reportedly considering redirecting Iranian assets to support Gulf allies, the rhetoric suggests that any meaningful progress will require a significant shift in posture from both sides. Until a breakthrough on the frozen assets occurs, the diplomatic machinery remains effectively jammed.