Biden Admin reportedly halts $6B transfer to Iran.
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi (Reuters/Mike Segar/file photo)
The Biden administration has reportedly halted its plans to release $6 billion in Iranian funds, which were intended for humanitarian needs in Iran, due to allegations of Iran’s involvement in Hamas’ recent terror attacks in Israel.
The White House and Qatar have agreed to keep the funds frozen, as Semafor reported. These funds were part of a prisoner swap deal reached in mid-September, where five U.S. citizens held in Iran were released in exchange for five Iranians imprisoned in the United States, and the frozen Iranian funds were transferred to accounts in Qatar.
However, following the terrorist attacks in southern Israel that resulted in over 1,300 deaths, the decision to freeze the funds in Qatar was revealed by Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo during a closed-door meeting with Democrats. The U.S. is currently assessing whether Iran, a supporter of Hamas, had any direct involvement in the attack.
Despite the lack of direct evidence linking Iran to the attack, Senate Republicans plan to introduce legislation to freeze the funds when they return next week. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them.” Iranian state media, on the other hand, claimed that the funds remained accessible.
Hamas members have claimed that Iran assisted in planning and approving the attacks on Israel, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that there is no “direct evidence” of Iran’s involvement.
The White House has vehemently denied any connection between the release of Iranian funds and Hamas’ attack on Israel. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized, “The deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel. Not a penny has been spent, and when it is, it can only go for humanitarian needs like food and medicine. Anything to the contrary is false.”
Republican lawmakers have been pressuring the White House to prevent Iran from accessing the funds in Doha due to allegations of its involvement in the attack.
What are the arguments for and against withholding the funds intended for humanitarian needs in Iran
Www.semafor.com reported on Monday. This decision comes after Israel condemned former US President Donald Trump for calling Hezbollah “smart,” further straining relations between the two countries.
According to reports, the $6 billion transfer was part of a broader deal to release frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. However, the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East, particularly the conflict between Israel and Hamas, has raised concerns about Iran’s role in supporting militant groups.
Hamas, an Islamic militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, has been launching rockets into Israel, resulting in the deaths of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. Israel has accused Iran of providing financial and military support to Hamas, fueling the ongoing violence.
The decision to halt the transfer of funds indicates the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing concerns about Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region. While President Biden has expressed his desire to revive the nuclear deal, he has also emphasized the need to address Iran’s support for terrorism and its ballistic missile program.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett welcomed the decision and praised the Biden administration for taking a strong stance against Iran’s involvement in terrorism. Bennett stated, “We have made it clear to the United States that allowing Iran to access funds would be a grave mistake and would enable Iran to continue supporting terrorist organizations.”
However, critics argue that withholding the funds intended for humanitarian needs in Iran could have severe consequences for the Iranian people, who are already struggling under economic sanctions. They argue that separating humanitarian aid from political tensions would be the more humane approach.
The situation highlights the complex challenges faced by the Biden administration in dealing with Iran and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Balancing diplomatic efforts to revive the nuclear deal with addressing concerns about Iran’s support for terrorism is a delicate task.
As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear how the Biden administration plans to proceed. However, the decision to halt the transfer of funds demonstrates the administration’s willingness to take a tough stance on Iran’s involvement in terrorism.
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