The $30 million red line

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, filling in for the White House press secretary , outlined President Trump's non-negotiable conditions for an Iran nuclear deal: surrender of enriched uranium, no nuclear weapons, and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He also noted falling oil prices and potential market relief if the conflict ends.

According to the report, Bessent emphasized that the administration will not accpt a weak agreement, laying out three non-negotiable red lines: Iran must surrender its highly enriched uranium, permanently abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons, and guarantee free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz .

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The remarks came amid reports of ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, though Bessent refused to confirm details, cautioning against getting ahead of the president. when pressed on whether these red lines would be part of a final agreement, Bessent responded with pointed logic: 'If there could be no deal without those, why would there be a deal without those?'

He stessed that Trump is committed to securing a deal that protects American interests and is not willing to compromise on core security issues.

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The secretary also connected the Iran situation to global energy markets, noting that oil prices have already dropped roughly 10 percent in May and could fall faster if the conflict is resolved. he pointed to nearly 2,000 ships waiting to exit the Gulf, suggesting that a resolution would flood the market with supply, driving prices down further.

Bessent's appearance came as anonymously sourced reports emerged about potential progress in U.S.-Iran talks, but he offered no confirmation. Instead, he reiterated the administration's hardline stance, warning against any expectation of a quick or lenient deal.

Tehran's two-track response

The briefing also touched on other topics, including the launch of Trump Accounts mobile app, which Bessent described as a transformative benefit for young Americans similar to the GI Bill. However, the core narrative remained focused on the administration's uncompromising approach to Iran, with Bessent acting as a stand-in press secretary to deliver the message directly.