President Donald Trump doesn't seem to have much sway in the negotiations to end the war against Iran, but there is someone else who may hold the key, insiders revealed on Monday.
Axios reported, citing multiple anonymous White House officials, that Iranian officials seem more afraid of the U.S. Treasury than of the Department of Defense. The insiders argued that Iranians are more afraid of sanctions now because of the country's economic conditions.
"The Iranians want to stop being bombed, and they want money," a senior administration official told the outlet. "But that's almost in reverse order. They really want the money first."
That seems to give Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent significant leverage over how the war negotiations proceed, according to the officials.
"They're in danger of runs on banks. There are gasoline shortages in this giant oil-rich country," one official told Axios. "They're more scared of Treasury than the War Department."
"The president has a win-win optionality. The U.S. is capable of prosecuting this militarily to the fullest extent. And the U.S. is capable of exerting economic sanctions that cripple Iran," another official said.