Trump administration considers unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as peace talks ramp up

Source: CNN

The Trump administration is considering unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of ongoing negotiations with Tehran, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Officials are hoping that a broader deal to end the war could be finalized as early as this weekend, though some areas of disagreement remain, sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.

The idea of Iran benefitting financially is likely to cause some consternation among conservative hawks; President Donald Trump has repeatedly excoriated former President Barack Obama over a 2016 arrangement that involved a $400 million cash delivery to Iran the same day the country released four American prisoners and formally implemented a nuclear deal.

Lead Pakistani mediators who have been in close contact with top Trump officials in recent days, including Asim Munir, the country’s field marshal, entered their third day of talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday. The Trump administration is hopeful that if those talks are successful, and the Pakistanis can get the Iranians to a place of significant compromise, then a potential second round of in-person talks between US and Iranian officials to finalize a deal could take place in Islamabad as soon as this weekend.

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