Trump Refuses to Unfreeze $100 Billion in Iranian Assets Before Ceasefire Deal
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 7
Trump Refuses to Unfreeze $100 Billion in Iranian Assets Before Ceasefire Deal
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 7
Summary
Trump said any release of Iranian funds would come only after a lasting ceasefire formally ends the US-Israel war with Iran, rejecting Tehran’s demand for upfront access.
More than $100 billion in Iranian assets remain frozen worldwide, and Iranian state media says Tehran wants $12 billion to $24 billion released in stages as part of any agreement.
The dispute has become a central obstacle in talks already strained by US strikes during nuclear negotiations, with Trump saying a deal is close while threatening renewed attacks.
Iranian adviser Mohsen Rezaee called the negotiations deadlocked and said asset releases are a test of trust, underscoring Tehran’s mistrust after Trump quit the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.
The standoff persists as fighting has largely paused since April 8, but exchanges continue and tensions over Hezbollah, Beirut strikes and a US naval blockade still threaten wider escalation.
With Iran’s economy collapsing, could releasing frozen assets for humanitarian aid finally break the current ceasefire deadlock?
Military strikes failed to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions. What new diplomatic strategy can succeed where force has fallen short?
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed. How long can the global economy withstand the chokehold on its vital oil supply?
The $100 Billion Stalemate: Trump, Iran, and the Ceasefire Crisis Over Frozen Assets
Overview
As of June 7, 2026, negotiations to end the US-Israel war with Iran remain deadlocked, with President Trump insisting that Iranian assets will stay frozen until a formal and lasting ceasefire is reached. The core dispute centers on when and how these assets should be released: the US demands Iran first meet key conditions, such as giving up its nuclear weapons capacity and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran sees the release of its frozen funds as essential for building trust and moving forward. This disagreement has stalled talks, repeatedly tested the fragile ceasefire, and heightened regional and global tensions.