US President Donald Trump said that reports of a $300 billion fund slated for Iran are false in comments to the press on the sidelines of the G7 summit on Wednesday.
"We're not putting up 10 cents. People can decide to do that, but that is up to them," he said.
"We are not investing in it, and we do not have a fund," he said, "That's a false story that got picked up incorrectly."
Trump added that he was not asking Gulf States to invest in Iran as well.
"We have a deal that's a fair deal. It's a good deal. We are not investing any money in Iran by the way, and that rumor got out there yesterday was ridiculous," he said, adding that he would talk about this matter later.
This comes after reports that a $300 billion private fund designed to spur investment in Iran was outlined in the MoU, and that more than half of that sum has already been committed.
A source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters that the fund is designed to give both sides an economic incentive to conclude a final deal to end the war.
The new fund is a private investment vehicle, not a reconstruction or reparations program, and will not include any government money or grants, the source said, adding that companies based in the US, the Gulf Arab states, Asia, South America, and Africa have agreed to commit financing.
Trump touts new MoU at G7, claims he 'never cared' about regime change in Iran
Trump said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is "great for a lot of reasons, but number one, by far... is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."
"If they do, all hell will rain down on them, and they're not going to do that," he added.
Trump also discussed regime change, claiming that he "never cared" about it.
"I guess you have regime change because... the first group, they're all dead, the second group, they're dead, and part of the third group is gone," he added.
"We're dealing with people that I think are very rational people. I mean, they were nice to deal with... I think actually they're smarter than the first and second group, but they're not radicalized, and they're looking to help their country," he continued.
"I've watched regime changes for years - they never work," he stated.
Will US-Iran deal survive a potential IDF strike on Beirut?
Trump asserted that the MoU would survive should Israel strike in Lebanon.
"I consider that the minor war that Iran's a big one, but we have that little pin prick out there that constantly rears its head, and that's Hezbollah," he said.
"I'll tell you what, Israel's fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people are being killed. You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody, because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they're not all Hezbollah.
"I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because, to be honest with you, I think they'd do a better job of doing it. If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone else, it'll do the job. Syria will do the job."
He noted that he had spoken to Israeli leaders about strikes on Beirut, and that he "didn't like" that the IDF bombed Beirut hours before the agreement was signed.
Trump noted that the MoU was not final, and that he could resume a bombing campaign if he did not like it.
"If I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head. If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head."
"We have our deal done with Iran, and it should be successful. It goes to the second stage, which I think will actually be easier," Trump added.
Trump also compared his current pending MoU to then-president Barack Obama's Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015.
"Obama handed [Iran] $1.7b. In cash... they tried to bribe their way out of it, and you know what the Iranians did? They laughed at Obama, and they said he's a stupid son of a b****," Trump said.
Trump then thanked Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his assistance in negotiating a deal.
"Working with Qatar and the people of Qatar was really a pleasure. They were tough. They were strong. You know, they are the closest to Iran physically. So with other countries, I noticed I had to travel about 45 minutes to get there. With you, you could walk right across the border," he said.
So you were in a more dangerous position. But I just have to say to you, uh, you fought, and you helped us, and with great bravery. So I just want to compliment you on that, and uh, you'll always be my friend."