Treasury secretary says Iran must surrender enriched uranium before sanctions relief; warns airlines and intermediaries could be sanctioned

Reporters pressed the Treasury secretary for details on whether sanctions relief for Iran was being discussed and what assurances would be required. The secretary said the administration would not accept a deal that failed to meet its red lines.

"Nothing is going to be on the table until we see the Strait of [sic] open" and Iran agrees to turn over highly enriched uranium and not pursue a nuclear weapon, the secretary said, describing those conditions as essential to any agreement.

Asked whether sanctions relief might include releasing frozen assets or pallets of cash, the secretary said that humanitarian and religious travel would be permitted but warned that any entity — such as airlines that sell tickets, accept landing fees or provide refueling — could be sanctioned if it aided state-owned Iranian carriers in violation of U.S. restrictions.

On a separate but related question about a possible 60-day ceasefire extension, the secretary declined to confirm a tentative agreement and said decisions ultimately rest with the president. He described economic pressure as a factor that had brought Iranian negotiators to the table but said the administration would not accept a "bad deal."

Reporters sought a timeline and specifics about what diplomatic assurances the president would require; the secretary reiterated the core conditions and emphasized the president's role in final approval. The briefing did not include documentary evidence or a formal text of any agreement and did not confirm any formal lifting of sanctions.

The secretary also warned that countries or firms enabling sanctioned aviation activity should expect enforcement measures. He said Treasury is coordinating with partners and that enforcement actions could target intermediary actors involved in airline operations.