Onlookers and critics were left baffled Friday after the Trump administration’s plans for ending its war against Iran were leaked by two U.S. officials and two additional insiders familiar with the White House’s negotiations.
As reported by Axios on Friday, the Trump administration is reportedly considering releasing $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for the Middle East nation’s stockpile of enriched uranium.
“Trump is going to pay Iran $20 BILLION to ship out its stockpile?” wrote former Obama administration official and podcast host Tommy Vietor in a social media post on X to his nearly 540,000 followers.
“Trump is trying to pay his way out of the war he started,” wrote another, New York-based political activist Melanie D’Arrigo in a social media post to her more than 85,000 followers.
Critics were quick to note the irony in the plan reportedly being considered by Trump, who has frequently accused former President Barack Obama of giving Iran “$150 billion in cash,” an inaccurate claim referring to the “high-end estimate” of Iranian funds that were unfrozen after the lifting of sanctions, much like what the Trump administration is reportedly considering doing now.
“It will be utterly tragic if, after all this pain and suffering, we end up with a similar or worse deal than the [Obama-negotiated Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal],” wrote Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, in a social media post on X to her nearly 45,000 followers.
“But at least we will get some laughs watching as the usual suspects suddenly have to praise Trump for giving Iran ‘pallets of cash’ for their uranium.”
Trump is going to pay Iran 20 BILLION DOLLARS to ship out its stockpile??? https://t.co/1tHn2E0IrZ
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) April 17, 2026
