Fact Check: Has the US authorized the release of frozen funds to Iran?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the temporary ceasefire deal, stopping the weeks-long war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms, claiming that President Donald Trump has authorized the release of frozen funds to Iran as part of the deal. Let us analyze and fact-check the claim's authenticity.
Claim: United States authorized the release of $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds
According to the viral claim, the United States government has allowed Iran to access $6 billion that was previously frozen in foreign bank accounts.
The claim has spread across social media platforms, including X and Facebook, and has been amplified by multiple accounts, garnering millions of views and thousands of likes.
The claim has prompted criticism of the Trump administration, with many social media users slamming the government, citing constant setbacks in ongoing geopolitical developments.
Fact Check: The claim is false
Though Tehran has asserted that it will negotiate with the US only if its frozen assets are released, the rumor is false, as no credible evidence supports the viral claim.
A Google search for the claim yielded no relevant results or reports in any prominent news media outlets about the authorization of frozen funds.
The claim must be rooted in a September 2023 report, which states that the administration of former President Joe Biden released $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds for a prisoner swap.
A fact-check by Grok stated, “The $6B in frozen Iranian funds traces back to the 2023 prisoner swap deal, which moved oil revenues to restricted Qatari accounts under strict oversight for humanitarian use only.”
Donald Trump announces a ceasefire with Iran
Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, April 7, agreeing to suspend planned military strikes as diplomatic efforts intensified following talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The decision came amid last-minute negotiations and a proposal from Tehran, which Trump described as a “workable basis” for a broader peace agreement. The pause in hostilities is also contingent on key maritime and security assurances in the region.
The ceasefire ended ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ launched on February 28, following orders from the president.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine provided details about the objectives and execution of the operation.
He described the operational environment as complex and unpredictable. “This is gritty and unforgiving business. It’s chaotic, it’s hot, it’s dark, it’s unpredictable, and there’s always unknowns, and our people proudly walked into those unknown and continued forward,” he said.
