Iran central bank chief denies US must receive freed funds, says no purchase obligation exists

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran's central bank governor, Abdolnaser Hemmati, said the $12 billion released under an agreement with the United States can be spent on basic goods, medicine and agricultural products, rejecting a claim by President Donald Trump that the funds must be used for U.S. exports. In a video message, Hemmati said the money would be directed to essential imports, freeing up Tehran's regular budget for other items. Hemmati stressed that no purchase obligation from the United States is included in the memoranda signed during the negotiations. He said Iran would buy from the U.S. only if American prices and product quality proved competitive in categories such as corn, wheat or other needed goods. Trump had earlier said the released Iranian funds would be used solely to purchase food and medical supplies from the United States, including corn, wheat and soybeans from American farmers. Hemmati's video statement pushed back on that framing, though both sides have publicly described the deal as involving $12 billion in previously frozen Iranian funds.