In a bold move, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is gearing up to launch an initiative aimed at aiding Gulf allies in their recovery efforts following a string of Iranian attacks. This program will ingeniously utilize Iran’s own assets to fund the reconstruction efforts.
According to a source with insights into Bessent’s strategy, “The Treasury is committed to leveraging every available tool to ensure Iranian assets are redirected to our Gulf partners, facilitating necessary rebuilding and repair work should Iran cause further destruction.”
Bessent has tasked his team with evaluating the situation among Gulf allies and has requested detailed estimates of the repair costs resulting from Iranian aggression since the conflict erupted.
“Additionally, the Treasury is exploring the possibility of utilizing Iranian assets to address damages incurred in the past,” the source added.
While the source did not disclose specific financial figures related to the program, there was no direct mention of Iran’s $24 billion in frozen assets, which have been a key topic in US-Iran negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict that flared up on February 28.
The US-imposed blockade has drastically curtailed Iran’s capacity to earn from oil, a move initiated by President Trump, following Iran’s actions that nearly halted trade through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The move, revealed Saturday, comes after the US Central Command announced Iran had fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain at dawn. That followed attacks which damaged Kuwait’s airport last week, killing one and wounding more than 60.
Mohsen Rezaei, a security advisor to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn’t been seen in public since assuming power, told CNN Friday talks are at a “deadlock,” and depend on the US unlocking the $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.
