Despite plotting to assassinate him, Iran's government praises President Trump's decisions to freeze foreign aid and overhaul USAID, believing it will halt funding for US-backed pro-democracy activists. Meanwhile, Iran hints at its willingness to negotiate over its nuclear program, hoping to lift crippling sanctions. Ordinary Iranians, however, express concern over the economic volatility caused by Trump's policies.
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran 's government seems to be welcoming some recent decisions by the United States — even though they happen to come from a man Iran ian operatives have allegedly been plotting to assassinate.
And even when signing an executive order to reimpose his “maximum pressure on Iran” on Tuesday, Trump suggested he wanted to deal with Tehran. “Those financial resources are not charity donations," Esmail Bagahei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said during a briefing with reporters on Monday. “They are wages paid in exchange for services."
In 2024, the Biden administration requested $65 million for NERD after over $600 million had been appropriated by Congress for the fund, according to the Congressional Research Service. That money and other funding had gone in the past toward training journalists and activists on how to report on human rights abuses, funding access to the internet amid government shutdowns and other issues.
While Bagahei, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, acknowledged Iran hasn't seen any “green light” yet for talks, Iran is trying to do everything it can to signal it wants them. “I’m going to sign it, but hopefully we’re not going to have to use it very much,” he said from the Oval Office. “We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran.”
IRAN TRUMP NUCLEARPROGRAM FOREIGN AID SANCTIONS
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