President Donald Trump has forcefully denied reports that Washington intends to provide Iran with $300 million as part of a newly concluded memorandum of understanding, while simultaneously hailing the accord as a guarantee that Tehran will never acquire a nuclear weapon. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump dismissed the payment claim as “fake news” circulated by Democrats, and declared that the 14-point interim agreement states “loud and clear” that Iran has committed to forswear nuclear arms. The text of the memorandum, reached in the early hours of 15 June, has yet to be made public, but Trump promised to release it at a formal signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday, and even vowed to read it “word by word” at a press conference to ensure accurate coverage.

Viewed from Washington, the president’s combative posture serves multiple audiences. He told reporters he would send the deal to Congress for review, a concession to Republican lawmakers who demanded oversight, and warned that “all hell will rain down” on Iran if it ever sought a bomb. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that several key issues remain unresolved and must be settled during a 60-day technical negotiation phase, but stressed that the framework ties any benefits for Iran to verifiable compliance. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies, would operate toll-free both during and after the negotiation window, Trump added, framing the commitment as a dividend of American strength.

European allies, however, have voiced disquiet. Diplomats in Paris and Berlin worry that an inexperienced US negotiating team may struggle to translate the broad principles into a durable, verifiable agreement, particularly given the compressed timetable. Iranian state media confirmed that lead negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf would attend the Geneva talks, while Trump expressed optimism that Tehran “wants to reach an agreement” and needs to return to normal economic activity. The president also used the G7 platform to air grievances with Israel over Lebanon, suggesting Syria might be better positioned to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, a remark that drew little immediate reaction from Jerusalem but underscored the regional complexities enveloping the nuclear file.

Analysts in London and the Gulf note that the memorandum’s opacity is itself a political instrument. By withholding the text, both sides retain room to shape domestic narratives: Trump can claim a historic breakthrough while Tehran can deny concessions. The 60-day clock, which Trump said would run “more or less as planned”, will test whether the framework can survive the transition from headline diplomacy to granular negotiation. With the US Congress poised to scrutinise the deal and European capitals urging caution, the Geneva ceremony marks not an endpoint but the start of a precarious diplomatic chapter.