Senators condemn $6B Iran prison swap as ‘Rewarding Evil’
Republicans and Democrats React to Biden Administration’s Authorization of Iranian Funds Transfer
Republicans and Democrats in Congress responded on Monday to news that the Biden administration has authorized the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar through international banks, ensuring no U.S. sanctions apply, as part of a prisoner swap deal.
The move paves the way for the release of five detained American citizens in Iran. In unexpected news, part of the agreement also includes the release of five Iranian citizens held in the United States.
Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the sanctions waivers, while Congress was informed of the waiver decision on Monday, The Associated Press reported. The Epoch Times contacted the State Department for confirmation.
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While the outline of the deal was previously known, and the waiver expected, it was a surprise to Congress that five Iranians would also be released as part of the deal.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress responded to the news on Monday in comments obtained by The Epoch Times.
“Terrible, terrible strategy,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.). “It’s the largest payout for the imprisoned that has ever been conceived of. This is rewarding evil with financial remuneration and the Biden administration is way out of bounds on this one,”
“I suspect we’ll have more people kidnapped pretty soon,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). “It’s a good deal for the Iranians.”
“I think it’s par for the course [of the Biden administration],” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). “As we continue to make concessions, whether it’s in Iran or Venezuela, all you’re doing is encouraging the taking of more Americans.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said that she was “very upset” that the United States was “getting into hostage negotiations.” She noted that the deal “just encourages bad behavior by the Iranians.”
The deal has also drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said the deal, which he described as blackmail, will serve to “finance” the Iranian economy at a time when Iran poses a “terrorism” threat. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) accused President Biden of “desecrat[ing]” the anniversary of 9/11 by “paying ransom to the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism.”
Meanwhile, responding to a question by The Epoch Times, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) welcomed the news, noting that one of the detained U.S. citizens has “deep Connecticut ties.”
“I’m glad the President is taking seriously getting our hostages home,” Mr. Murphy said. “One of them is … someone with deep Connecticut ties. He’s very fragile. President Biden has made it clear from the beginning [that] getting prisoners home is going to be a priority and I’m glad he’s taking the steps to do that.”
The sanctions waiver covers banks and financial institutions in South Korea, Germany, Ireland, Qatar, and Switzerland. This exemption ensures that banks from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia can convert and transfer frozen funds from South Korea to Qatar’s central bank without violating U.S. sanctions. These funds will be reserved for Iran’s humanitarian purchases.
The transfer of the $6 billion was the critical element in the prisoner release deal, which saw four of the five American detainees transferred from Iranian jails into house arrest last month. The fifth detain
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