Iran Proposes Nuclear Deal in Exchange for Release of Billions in Frozen Funds

Iran has proposed returning to nuclear negotiations with the United States in direct exchange for the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets currently frozen abroad. The proposal was reported by both Forbes and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on May 27-28, 2026.

According to the reporting, Iran wants the U.S. to release the frozen funds as a condition for reaching a deal with the Trump administration. The FDD noted that Tehran is signaling it “wants billions in frozen funds back to make a deal with Trump.”

In a Forbes Newsroom interview, FDD research fellow Gabriel Meizlish examined the effectiveness of existing U.S. sanctions on Iran and discussed whether any release of frozen assets could form part of a final nuclear arrangement. No specific timeline, exact dollar amount, or detailed terms for the potential release of funds were disclosed in the coverage.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies has tracked sanctions policy toward Iran for years. Further details on any potential agreement would depend on the outcomes of ongoing talks between the two sides.