US and Qatari officials have decided to block Iran from accessing $6 billion worth of unfrozen oil revenue recently tied up in Doha, at least for now.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo briefed House Democrats on the “quiet understanding” Thursday, five days after the Tehran-backed Hamas massacre of at least 1,300 people in southern Israel, according to CBS News and the Washington Post.
According to the latter outlet, Adeyemo told lawmakers that the money “isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”
The funds, which were kept in a South Korean bank before being transferred to an account in Qatar last month, were allowed to be frozen by the Biden administration as part of a prisoner exchange deal with the Tehran theocracy.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly insisted that the $6 billion is being closely monitored by the Treasury Department and can only be used for humanitarian purposes.
“None of the funds that have now gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed in any way by Iran,” Blinken told reporters Thursday in Israel.
“Funds from the account are overseen by the Treasury Department and can only be channeled for humanitarian goods,” he continued. “We have strict supervision of funds. And we retain the right to freeze them.”
Iran has cheered the bloodshed and genocide that Hamas has committed against Israel. AP
Top White House officials deflected questions Thursday about the deal report.
“I’m not going to talk about diplomatic conversations one way or the other,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
“I am not in a position to speak about this newspaper report,” he said. “I’m not going to speculate one way or the other here about future transactions. What I can tell you is that none of it has been accessed, and we are watching every penny.”
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest news on Hamas attacks on Israel
A group of Republicans and even some Democrats have called on the Biden administration to “refreeze” the money in the wake of the deadly Hamas attack.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo reportedly told House Democrats about the tacit understanding with Qatar.AP
So far, US officials have said there is no direct evidence that Iran either planned or ordered Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel, despite Tehran’s support for the terror group.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed, more than 3,000 injured and at least 100 taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists are seen taking women hostage and parading them through the streets in a gruesome video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price.”
Gaza health officials reported at least 1,400 Palestinians killed and more than 6,000 wounded.
On Tuesday, national security officials reportedly told senators that they have a report that “directly contradicts” a Wall Street Journal report on the direct involvement of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in terrorist attacks.
However, the White House also described Iran as “complicit” in the October 7 attacks, which also killed at least 27 Americans.
Biden knew the $6 billion transfer served as a catalyst for Iran-backed terrorist attacks.
We need a formal agreement to freeze funds – not a leak to the media.
Biden should follow my lead and that of my colleagues who asked the administrator to freeze payments. https://t.co/vDtZIYrrvB
— Senator Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 12, 2023
Another 14 are still missing, Kirby announced Thursday.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told The Post she wants a “formal agreement” between the US and Qatar instead of “a leak to the media.”
“Biden knows the $6 billion transfer serves as a catalyst for Iran-backed terrorist attacks. We need a formal agreement to freeze funds – not a leak to the media. Biden should follow my lead and that of my colleagues who asked the administrator to freeze payments,” he wrote on X, previously Twitter.
Many defenders of Israel have called for a stronger response against Iran. ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Biden administration officials agreed to shell out $6 billion during a deal finalized last month in which the US also released five Iranian nationals in exchange for five American prisoners held in Iran.
Officials from the Treasury Department, the State Department and the National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
