Trump administration considers unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as peace talks ramp up

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: CNN

The Trump administration is considering unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of ongoing negotiations with Tehran, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Officials are hoping that a broader deal to end the war could be finalized as early as this weekend, though some areas of disagreement remain, sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.

The idea of Iran benefitting financially is likely to cause some consternation among conservative hawks; President Donald Trump has repeatedly excoriated former President Barack Obama over a 2016 arrangement that involved a $400 million cash delivery to Iran the same day the country released four American prisoners and formally implemented a nuclear deal.

Lead Pakistani mediators who have been in close contact with top Trump officials in recent days, including Asim Munir, the country’s field marshal, entered their third day of talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday. The Trump administration is hopeful that if those talks are successful, and the Pakistanis can get the Iranians to a place of significant compromise, then a potential second round of in-person talks between US and Iranian officials to finalize a deal could take place in Islamabad as soon as this weekend.

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/17/politics/iran-trump-money-uranium-deal

---

TACO.

[Diraven]

1. The only reason they're considering this

Is so Trump himself and Jared Kushner can steal a piece of it.

[underpants]

2. So we start the war and they get the money?

Our blockade is still in effect (supposedly) AND we’re paying the tolls?


Well he is transactional.

[LaMouffette]

3. Huh. Funny, but I seem to recall Repubs' heads exploding when President Obama did this same exact thing.

Except when Obama did it, it was to prevent a war with Iran from happening, whereas Rump is considering it to end a war that he himself started.

Rump was right: I am sick of all this "winning."

[BootinUp]

4. Hypocrisy. Nt

[Martin68]

5. Oh, the irony. There was such a MAGAt uproar when Biden freed up funds.

[Drum]

6. Well well well...

T**mp will forever live in Obama’s shadow.

[mpcamb]

7. 'Trump administration considers unfreezing $20 billion'. That's known as a BRIBE.

[Prairie Gates]

8. The $450 million cash delivery

The Shah's regime paid for a shitload of US weapons with Iranian money. Then came the revolution. Naturally, the US did not deliver the paid-for weapons. They also did not return the money. The $450 million was the money being returned.

[duckworth969]

9. Iran keeps winning bigly

[ck4829]

10. Wow.