Fact Check: Is Donald Trump giving Iran $14B 'handout' for oil?

WASHINGTON, DC: The US Treasury Department on March 20 issued a narrow, temporary general license authorizing the sale, delivery, and offloading of Iranian-origin crude oil and petroleum products that were already loaded onto vessels on that date.

Following this, a rumor circulated online claiming that President Donald Trump would give Iran a $14 billion 'handout' for the country's oil. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: Trump is giving Iran $14B 'handout' for oil

An X user shared the claim online and wrote, "Donald Trump just gave Iran $14 billion for their oil, while fighting a war against them. Defend that MAGA."

The rumor also circulated on other social media platforms such as Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky, while a Facebook page and a Reddit user referred to the payment as a 'handout'.

The Facebook post read, "Trump is forced to give Iran a $14 BILLION handout in humiliating defeat as he desperately tries to stem the bleeding of oil prices caused by his illegal war of choice!"

"In order to get more oil flowing and try to slow down the skyrocketing price of crude, the Trump administration has announced it will be granting sanctions relief to Iranian oil already pumped and being transported at sea – relief that is projected to be worth a stunning $14 billion," the Facebook post added. 

Meanwhile, a Bluesky post read, "Trump's release of Iranian oil may be a revenue infusion worth more than $14 billion for...Iran. In other words, Trump is giving financial aid to the country that is actively trying to kill our soldiers."

Fact Check: Unrated, uncertainties around exact revenue access

The US Treasury did issue a license to temporarily permit the purchase and import of Iranian oil, which Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent described as 'stranded at sea'.

Interestingly, the value of this estimated amount of oil was more than $15 billion on March 20, when Bessent lifted the sanctions. 

However, it is unclear whether the US would buy any Iranian oil after lifting sanctions on the country's floating reserve, thus directly funding Iran's continued war efforts.

Though Bessent wrote on X that "Iran will have difficulty accessing any revenue generated" from oil sales under the Treasury's license, he did not provide additional details.

As there is uncertainty about the effects of the Treasury's license and whether the US would directly purchase any of Iran's reserves, the claim is left unrated.