On April 17, 2026, Trump told CBS News that Iran “agreed to everything” including handing over enriched uranium. He said U.S. and Iranian officials would “go get it” together and bring it to the United States. The interview was published just before markets closed for the weekend.
Iran immediately denied it. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei: “Iran's enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere. Iran's enriched uranium is sacred to us like the soil of Iran.” A senior Iranian official told CNN that Trump's claims are “alternative facts.” Reuters confirmed “significant differences” still separate the two sides.
The same day, Axios reported the U.S. is considering unfreezing $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Iran's stockpile of roughly 2,000 kg of enriched uranium — a three-page MOU with earlier U.S. offers at $6 billion, Iran demanding $27 billion, and a compromise at $20 billion. CNN and Bloomberg independently confirmed the negotiations. Trump denied it on Truth Social: “No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form.” He told CBS: “No, we are not paying 10 cents.”
The hypocrisy is staggering. Trump and Republicans spent years excoriating Obama for unfreezing $1.7 billion in Iranian assets as part of the 2015 nuclear deal — calling it “paying ransom” and “funding terrorism.” Trump is now reportedly considering unfreezing 12 times that amount after starting a war that killed thousands, sent gas above $4, and cost taxpayers over $50 billion.
The CBS interview's timing — just before market close on a Friday — fits the documented pattern of market-moving Iran announcements.