Is the Iran peace deal in danger? US considers moving Iranian assets to Gulf countries

The U.S. government is trying to move Iranian assets to Gulf states to rebuild and repair damage caused by Iran after a wave of missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant has directed a team to assess the cost of damage already suffered by U.S. Gulf allies, and Washington is also considering using Iranian assets to fund repairs for any future conflict-related damage, Reuters reported.The news came a day after Mohsen Rezai, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, said a possible peace deal between Tehran and Washington depended on the release of $24 billion in Iranian assets frozen by the United States.The latest developments threaten to further complicate an already fragile ceasefire between the two countries, with fighting erupting again over the weekend even as diplomatic efforts to reach a tentative deal continue.U.S. officials are reviewing Iranian assets that could be repurposed for reconstruction efforts in Gulf states affected by Iranian attacks. The proposal comes as U.S.-Iran negotiations appear to be increasingly deadlocked. Rezai told CNN on Friday that Tehran views the release of the $24 billion as a key test of trust and a necessary step toward a broader agreement.Meanwhile, military tensions in the region continue to escalate.Earlier on Saturday, U.S. forces attacked Iran’s coastal radar facilities on Goruk and Qeshm islands in the Strait of Hormuz after intercepting drones that U.S. Central Command said posed a threat to maritime traffic. The U.S. military later said it had also shot down two other Iranian attack drones near the strategic waterway.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by firing missiles at U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain. Kuwaiti authorities said seven ballistic missiles flew over residential areas, causing material damage but no casualties. In Bahrain, alarms were sounded in parts of the country, urging residents to seek asylum.While Iranian state media claimed the missiles struck U.S. bases in both countries, the U.S. military said six missiles were intercepted and a seventh failed to hit its intended target.The United States and Iran have been engaged in indirect talks aimed at reaching a temporary arrangement to cease hostilities while leaving more contentious issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program, to future negotiations.However, progress remains elusive as both sides continue to engage in military action alongside diplomatic engagement.Tehran is seeking to secure billions of dollars in oil revenue, ease sanctions on crude exports, lift restrictions affecting its ports and exert greater influence over the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict disrupted maritime traffic, about a fifth of the world’s oil shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday carrying what Iranian media described as a “special letter” from Pakistan’s army chief and prime minister to Khamenei, a sign that mediation efforts are continuing. Naqvi is expected to hold talks with senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.The conflict has also put increasing pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump, who faces domestic criticism over rising fuel prices and the broader economic disruption caused by the war.In an interview with NBC News, Trump said U.S. actions had significantly weakened Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, but acknowledged that Tehran still retains a large arsenal.“They have some missiles, they have some drones. I would say, percentage-wise, probably 21 to 22 percent of their missiles. That’s a lot of missiles, but it’s not what it was like when we first struck,” Trump said.Beyond the Gulf, tensions remain high in the wider region. In Lebanon, two officers and a soldier were killed in an attack on a military vehicle in southern Israel. The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident.Iran has linked any broader deal with Washington to a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. However, Israel insists its military operations will continue, underscoring the complex web of regional disputes that continue to complicate peace efforts.With negotiations stalled, three months into the war, prospects for a lasting deal remain uncertain.