“The administration of former United States President Barack Obama gave the Islamic Republic of Iran 150 billion United States dollars in cash as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal).”

Won’t Iran get $150 billion from sanctions relief, and won’t that money go straight toward terrorist activity in the region? No. First, the $150 billion figure is entirely off base: the Treasury Department estimates that, should Iran complete its key nuclear steps and receive sanctions relief, Iran will be able to freely access about a third of that figure in overseas foreign reserves — a little over $50 billion. Further, we will continue to aggressively enforce sanctions against Iran’s support for terrorism, human rights abuses, missile program, and destabilizing activities in the region.

President Obama delivers remarks to announce a historic nuclear agreement that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Secretary Kerry (Sept. 2): 'Without this agreement, Iran could double the number of its operating centrifuges almost overnight and continue expanding with ever more efficient designs. With this agreement, Iran’s centrifuges will be reduced by two-thirds for 10 years.'

Sanctions relief under the JCPOA allows Iran access to roughly $100 billion in usable assets, with Treasury estimating about $50 billion immediately liquid. This is not U.S. taxpayer money or cash given directly; it is the release of Iran's frozen overseas assets.

Trump said that the nuclear deal with Iran gave the country $150 billion... The $150 billion is the highest estimate we've seen, and the one with the least evidence to support it. The high-end estimate from the U.S. Treasury Department in 2015 was $56 billion, and outside analysts believe the number could be lower. It’s important to know that little of that money was under the control of the United States... it was Iran’s money to begin with, not a payment from any government.

Misconception: The Iran Deal included a U.S. payment of $150 billion to Iran. The Facts: The money that Iran receives from complying with the agreement is not a direct payment from the U.S. government. Instead, the funds are Iranian foreign assets, which the international sanctions regime prevented Iran from accessing. The $150 billion figure is also inaccurate. The amount of money Iran could access from these foreign reserves is about $100 billion. Of this amount, about half of it is tied up in Iranian foreign debts. As Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew testified before Congress, the actual amount that Iran would be able to use is about $50 billion.

Misconception: The Iran Deal included a U.S. payment of $150 billion to Iran. The Facts: The money that Iran receives from complying with the agreement is not a direct payment from the U.S. government. Instead, the funds are Iranian foreign assets, which the international sanctions regime prevented Iran from accessing. Under the JCPOA, these nuclear-related sanctions were waived after Iran verifiably completed its initial obligations. The $150 billion figure is also inaccurate. The amount of money Iran could access from these foreign reserves is about $100 billion. Of this amount, about half of it is tied up in Iranian foreign debts. As then-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew testified before Congress, the actual amount that Iran would be able to use is about $50 billion.

Under this deal, Iran would receive $100 billion to $150 billion in sanctions relief... Specifically, later this year or at the very latest early next year, upon verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran has disclosed the

Sanctions relief under the deal was expected to provide Iran access to as much as $150 billion in foreign exchange reserves and other assets frozen abroad. U.S. officials have said that Iran would only be able to access about half of that amount, or $50–75 billion, due to contractual obligations and other restrictions.

President Trump on Monday assailed the Obama administration for being hoodwinked by Iran, making his case with a frequently told and false story. The claim involves a $1.7 billion cash payment that was Iran's own money from a pre-1979 arms deal, not a gift or ransom, and the $150 billion figure refers to unfrozen Iranian assets, not U.S. cash given directly.

The $1.7 billion payment settled a pre-1979 arms deal claim, separate from the JCPOA: $400 million principal from a trust fund plus $1.3 billion interest. It was delivered in foreign cash due to banking restrictions, not as part of the nuclear deal or a $150 billion payment. This was a legal settlement, not a gift or ransom.

And nearly all of the American measures that had effectively severed Iran’s economy from the international financial system will be waived, permitting somewhere in the realm of $100 to $150 billion in Iranian assets that had been held in overseas accounts to flow back into Iran.

“Obama gave them $1.7 billion in cash.” Truth: The money actually belonged to Iran... final settlement in January 2017 involved the return of $400 million... and $1.3 billion in interest. No US “greenbacks” involved. (Note: This partially supports the $1.7B cash element but refutes $150B as a gift; overall refutes the full claim of $150B cash from Obama via JCPOA.)

There is broad consensus across U.S. government reports (Treasury, CRS, State Dept.) and fact-checkers that the JCPOA did not involve the U.S. giving Iran $150 billion in cash. Instead, it unfroze ~$50-100B in Iranian assets abroad. The $1.7B was a separate settlement of a 1979 arms deal claim, paid in foreign currencies, not USD cash as a 'gift.' No primary sources support the $150B cash claim directly.

Under Barack Obama, under the catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal, the United States allowed between $100 million -- $100 billion rather, and $150 billion to flow directly into Iran. The Obama administration sent $1.7 billion in cash in unmarked bills on pallets in the dead of night in a plane flown into Iran late at night. That money -- money is fungible. And when you flood the Ayatollah, who is chanting ‘Death to America' with over $100 billion, in a very real sense that money that the Obama administration allowed to flow into Iran is what helped fund those missiles that were attacking our servicemen and women.

Lifting long-held sanctions will free up large amounts of money that may go to further destabilizing the region. Some figures suggest that Iran will gain access to up to $150 billion – a considerable portion of their overall economy. Even with the agreement in place, it’s hard to believe that none of this cash windfall will be funneled toward weapons or missiles pointed at our allies in the region.