Well to be fair, in the actual article they do try to back up their assertions a little more than what’s given above. But still they are pretty slim and not convincing.
Meaning in part, changing what Trump said in denying it:
Iran’s hostility substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013. And they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash.”
THE FACTS: There was no $150 billion payout from the U.S. treasury or other countries.
Where did Trump say the U.S. treasury? As for other countries;
When Iran signed the multinational deal to restrain its nuclear development in return for being freed from sanctions, it regained access to its own assets, which had been frozen abroad. Iran was allowed to get its money back.
Does not "frozen abroad" mean other countries?
As for 2013:
The deal actually was signed in 2015, after a 2013 preliminary agreement.
A technical detail.
Then,
The $1.8 billion is a separate matter. A payout of roughly that amount did come from the U.S. treasury.
Again, where does "they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash" say "from the U.S. treasury?"
In the 1970s, Iran paid the U.S. $400 million for military equipment that was never delivered because the government was overthrown and diplomatic relations ruptured. After the nuclear deal, the U.S. and Iran announced they had settled the matter, with the U.S. agreeing to pay the $400 million principal along with about $1.3 billion in interest.
So indeed "they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash."
Next,
TRUMP: “The missiles fired last night at us and our allies were paid for with the funds made available by the last administration.”
THE FACTS: That accusation comes without corroboration. The administration has offered no information supporting the contention that in regaining access to $150 billion of its assets that had been frozen abroad, Iran steered a chunk of that money to the missiles that hit the bases in Iraq.
Meaning AP has no corroboration, and thus it decrees the claim to be false.
TRUMP: “We are independent, and we do not need Middle East oil.”
THE FACTS: Trump’s declaration of energy independence is premature. The U.S. still needs plenty of oil from the Mideast.
On energy more broadly, the U.S. is indeed close to parity on how much energy it produces and how much it consumes. In some months, it produces more than it consumes. But it has not achieved self-sufficiency.
So Trump was guilty of hype, unless he means that if necessary, with changes and the help of reserves, the US could survive without ME oil.
America is now the world’s top oil producer.
For the first time since 1973, the United States is the world's largest producer of crude oil, according to preliminary estimates published on Wednesday by the Energy Department. But,
US oil refineries, which were mostly built decades ago, still require heavy doses of foreign oil. https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/12/investing/us-oil-production-russia-saudi-arabia/index.html
The United States, produces roughly 12 million barrels per day, but consumes 20 million bpd, meaning it must import the rest. Much of the US shortfall comes from Canada, but some still comes from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other Gulf nations because several US refineries prefer their oil. Crude oil is graded by density and consistency, and oil from different geographical locations will naturally have unique properties. The biggest US refinery — Motiva Enterprises LLC in Port Arthur, Texas — is half-owned by Saudi Arabia's state energy company, Saudi Aramco, and is set up for heavier Saudi grades. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-18/saudi-oil-us-explainer-how-much-does-the-us-have/11519486
TRUMP: “The American military has been completely rebuilt under my administration, at a cost of $2.5 trillion.”
THE FACTS: That’s an exaggeration.
At least they called it what it is.