Trump Cuts Off Iran's Financial Lifeline: Growing US Anger Toward Pakistan
US President Donald Trump continues to exert heavy economic pressure on Iran, refusing to release billions of dollars in frozen assets. Sources told News 14 that Pakistan and Qatar have twice approached the American president to request the release of approximately $12 billion to promote regional de-escalation, but were met with a firm refusal.
US President Donald Trump continues to exert heavy economic pressure on Iran, and at this stage refuses to allow the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. Sources familiar with the details told News 14 that in the last two weeks, Pakistan and Qatar have twice approached the American president as part of contacts with Tehran, and asked him to allow the release of about 12 billion dollars in order to promote significant calm in the Middle East.
However, the answer received from Trump was unequivocal: no. From his perspective, as long as the economic pressure on Iran continues to work and the regime in Tehran is dealing with a shortage of foreign currency and liquidity, there is no reason to ease it and allow the release of the funds.
The American refusal comes at a time when Iran is trying to project outwardly that the pressure does not affect the regime's decision-making, but in Washington, it is estimated that the economic situation is precisely one of the central levers of pressure that can be applied to Tehran at this stage.
At the same time, anger at Pakistan is growing in the United States. Sources in the Republican Party are criticizing Islamabad after Washington expected it, as an ally, to assist in increasing pressure on Iran. In practice, trade between Iran and Pakistan continues to grow, contrary to American expectations.
It was also learned by News 14 that among Republican circles, voices are already being heard calling to examine punitive measures against Pakistan as well, if it continues to deepen its economic ties with Tehran in parallel to its role as a mediator.
In the background, there is also a secret agreement between Iran and Pakistan, which we reported on in the past, according to which if Islamabad succeeds in helping Tehran gain access to the frozen funds – it itself will receive a percentage of the amount that will be released.
Thus, a situation has been created in which Pakistan presents itself as a mediator between the parties, but at the same time, it also has a direct economic interest in the success of the efforts to bring about the release of the Iranian money.
