Speaking at the G7 summit on June 17, President Trump floated the possibility of easing sanctions on Iran, framing it with the kind of conditional language that has become his diplomatic signature.
“When they behave, we’re going to let that go… I put sanctions on a lot of people, and then I let them go,” Trump said, referencing the sweeping economic restrictions his administration has placed on Tehran.
From maximum pressure to memorandum of understanding
The remarks land just days after the US and Iran finalized a memorandum of understanding around June 15. The MoU includes a 60-day ceasefire and opens the door to continued negotiations over sanctions relief, nuclear issues, and the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Back in February 2025, the Trump administration reimposed what it called a maximum pressure strategy against Iran. Now, Trump made a humanitarian case for eventual relief, referencing Iran’s population of 91 million and suggesting that sustained sanctions could push the country toward widespread poverty or starvation.
