Republicans and foreign policy experts on Wednesday denounced the Biden administration’s “reckless and dangerous” move to renew sanctions waivers for Iran that would have given US adversaries access to $10 billion held in escrow accounts.
The 120-day waiver, authorized by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, allows the Iranian regime to access funds from Iraq in exchange for electricity purchases.
The update comes amid increased attacks on US troops by Iranian proxies and just over a month after the Iran-backed terror group Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, sparking sharp criticism.
“On the same day as the largest pro-Israel rally in American history, the Joe Biden administration granted yet another sanctions waiver for Iran to access $10 billion – the same regime that underwrote the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that Israel dared to fight back, with American and Israeli hostages are still being held,” Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement X post.
“Add this on top of the $6 billion ransom payment the Biden administration gave to Iran on 9/11 and the loosening of oil embargoes that keep the mullahs from getting cash from China. Meanwhile, Iran continues to provide safe harbor to Al Qaeda leaders, its proxies attack US troops, and they hire assassins to try to kidnap or kill former US officials and dissidents,” the 2024 GOP presidential candidate added.
Ron DeSantis slammed the move as “reckless and dangerous.”ZUMAPRESS.com
“Reckless and dangerous don’t begin to describe the wreckage Biden left behind,” DeSantis said.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley also slammed the sanctions waiver, arguing it made the US “look like a fool.”
“Iranian proxies are targeting American troops abroad and have only killed dozens of our citizens in Israel. Joe Biden needs to wake up – we look like idiots paying terrorists who attack us and chant ‘death to America,'” he tweeted.
Nikki Haley argued that extending the waiver made the US “look like a fool.” AP
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) called the Biden administration’s actions “inappropriate,” and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said it was “madness.”
“Iran financially supports Hamas terrorism. Why does Biden want to send another $10 Billion to Tehran?” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wondered.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, slammed the waiver extension as “reassuring.”
“After refusing to permanently freeze $6 billion in ransom payments to Iran, the administration released another $10 billion. This settlement only emboldens the Iranian regime and its proxies to continue their attacks on American forces and our allies,” Cotton wrote on X.
US officials have argued that the extension of the waiver is necessary to prevent Iraq from being cut off from critical energy sources. The State Department also stated that under the terms of the waiver, Iran could only use the funds to purchase unauthorized products, such as humanitarian goods such as food and medicine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the 120-day waiver extension on Tuesday.AFP via Getty Images
Foreign policy and national security experts, however, are skeptical that Iran will not use the windfall to continue its violent campaign against the US and Israel.
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the think tank Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, argued that President Biden “deserves enormous credit” for his support for Israel but “harsh criticism” for lighting the sanctions waiver, noting that the Iranian regime is a “major financier.” and arms supplier for the horrific October 7 attack on Israel.”
“It is beyond belief that he would provide $10 billion for a regime that would turn around and use this money to wage war against America and Israel,” Dubowitz said in an analysis of the waiver.
The exemption will allow Iran to spend about $10 billion on humanitarian goods.REUTERS
FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg added that “the idea of providing $10 billion to the sponsors of all these evils is ridiculous,” citing 55 attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria by Iranian proxies since October 17.
“Congress has the right to refuse to lock up $6 billion in Qatar; it should move quickly to lock in this $10 billion as well,” Goldberg argued.
Shortly after the US froze $6 billion for Iran in September, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi declared that Tehran would use the money “wherever we need it,” leading to fears that the regime would spend the funds on nefarious purposes.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller defended the waiver Tuesday, claiming that Iran will continue its “destabilizing activities” regardless of whether the waiver is issued.
“This is a waiver that has been issued since 2018. We have seen Iran continue its destabilizing activities throughout that time, as they did before the Trump administration issued this first waiver in 2018, which is why we have held them accountable. through attacks on their proxy militias in the region,” Miller said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
