Congressional Republicans demanded Tuesday that the Biden administration block Iran from accessing $6 billion in assets released as part of a prisoner swap finalized last month.
The Treasury Department privately assured Democratic lawmakers last week that the US has a “tacit understanding” with Qatar – where $6 billion is kept – that the money is “not going anywhere anytime soon.”
But Republicans want the administration to make a public declaration to that effect.
“We know that Iran funds Hamas, but it’s puzzling why this administration refuses to issue a formal decision to freeze $6 billion,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told reporters on Capitol Hill. “We must permanently freeze $6 billion in ransom payments to Iran.”
“The idea that you can bribe Iran to become normal doesn’t work. There is not enough money you can send these people to make them behave,” added Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “I believe them when they say ‘Death to America.’ They are not kidding.”
Senator Marsha Blackburn blasted the Biden administration for making “ransom” payments to Tehran. Senate GOP
Graham went on to suggest that the Biden administration should threaten war against Iran if its proxy, the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, attacks Israel from the north while the Jewish state’s military is preoccupied with the threat of Hamas in Gaza.
“Not only do we have to cut off all the money, we have to put on the table that if there is a second front opened against Israel by Hezbollah – which has 100,000 precision-guided rockets aimed at Israel – if that happens, there won’t be a two-front war, there will be there is a three-front war,” he argued.
Not all of Graham’s Republican colleagues were prepared to be so combative, with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) saying: “I think, you know, Senator Graham speaks his own mind on this issue.”
Iranian worshipers burn a US flag during their pro-Palestinian rally on Oct. 13.AP
Biden administration officials, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, have insisted that not one cent of the $6 billion has been accessed by Iran so far.
Furthermore, they have insisted that $6 billion in assets, which come from Iran’s oil revenues, are being closely monitored by the Treasury Department and are reserved for humanitarian use only.
Republicans have countered that every cent given to Iran only allows the theocracy to hand out more money to its jihadi proxies.
Iran has threatened to get involved if Israel begins a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, home to Hamas. Iran’s supreme leader’s office HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“Money can be used for their nefarious activities,” Thune said on Tuesday. “They are [Iran] is the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world today.”
On the House side, 20 Republicans led by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called on Biden to refreeze the money in a Friday letter to the commander in chief.
“We appeal to you to ensure that the money cannot be touched by Iran, under any circumstances. Money can be used,” they wrote.
“We were previously surprised by Iranian President Raisi who boasted to the world that Iran would spend $6 billion ‘wherever we need it,'” they continued, referring to the Iranian leader’s comments to NBC News last month.
Senate Republicans have also proposed legislation to permanently cut Iran off the money.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) announced efforts to do just that last week.
On Tuesday, presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the top GOP member of the Senate Banking Committee, unveiled his plan.
Senator Mitch McConnell supports efforts to refreeze $6 billion.MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Sen. Tim Scott is trying to position himself as a leader on the $6 billion refreeze issue.AP
“My bill is a comprehensive approach to using our economic sanctions tools against Iran by freezing $6 billion and ensuring Congress has the information it needs to prevent Iran from accessing funds in the future,” Scott said in a statement.
“We must be firm that the United States will not back down and waive sanctions on Iran’s frozen funds held by other countries.”
A handful of Democrats, many of whom face tough re-election battles in 2024, have also called for a $6 billion freeze on Tehran.
President Biden is expected to visit Israel on Wednesday to show solidarity as the country faces Hamas.Ting Shen/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The lawmakers include Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Biden administration has described Iran as “complicit” in the October 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas, which killed more than 1,300 people – including at least 30 Americans.
US officials said 13 others were unaccounted for, with some confirmed being held hostage by terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
