Democratic senators break with Biden, call to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian ‘ransom’ funds after horrific Hamas terror attack on Israel
Influential Democratic senators have publicly pressed the Biden administration to find a way to freeze $6 billion in Iranian funds over Tehran’s support for Hamas.
The pressure from within the president’s own party comes as the White House says there is no confirmation of Iran’s support for the gruesome Hamas attack – even while acknowledging Iran’s longstanding support for the group.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), a Democratic centrist up for re-election in 2024, is among those calling for the funds to be refrozen.
“As U.S. intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we must review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided,” he said.
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) is among a group of Democrats calling for freezing $6 billion in Iranian assets
“At a minimum, we must immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial instruments at our disposal,” he said. the cup reported.
Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.), who is also facing re-election, also cooperated. ‘I did not support the initial transfer of $6 billion. We absolutely must freeze Iranian assets while we also consider additional declarations,’ he said.
The administration negotiated the unfreezing of the funds in a deal last month that bought the release of five Americans held hostage in Iran. The then frozen funds were transferred from South Korea to Qatar, where they are now being monitored.
According to the terms of the agreement, the money must go for “humanitarian” purposes, but Republican critics have expressed concern that they could still become accustomed to subsidizing terrorism by freeing up other funds.
Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) said he was not in favor of the original deal that freed up $6 billion in Iranian funds and won the release of five Americans.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) cited Iran’s “longstanding support for Hamas.”
President Biden called out ‘unadulterated evil’ in the Hamas attack on Israel in a speech where he did not specifically name Iran, which the administration says has supported Hamas for years
It all comes as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza after bombing numerous targets there since Saturday’s attack inside Israel.
The White House says it is examining past intelligence and trying to determine whether Iran provided direct support for the attack, but has so far been unable to determine that. Israel also said there was no ‘smoking gun’.
Sen. Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.) isn’t waiting for more information, based on what Hamas has already done.
“In light of Hamas’s violent and heinous terrorist attack on Israel and Iran’s longstanding support for Hamas, we must freeze these assets,” she said in a statement. Politics.
‘This was clearly an attack that had been planned for months or longer, the idea that there is somehow a relationship there does not pass the smell test,’ said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the House Intelligence Chairman, said.
President Biden did not mention Iran or the $6 billion in his Tuesday speech.
“Let me say again, any country, any organization that thinks to take advantage of the situation, I have one word: don’t,” Biden said.
Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said “not a dollar” of the $6 billion has been spent yet.
“We’ve said from the beginning that Iran was complicit in this attack in a broad sense because they provided the bulk of the funding for the military wing of Hamas,” Sullivan said at the White House on Tuesday.
“They provided training, they provided capabilities, they provided support, and they had contact with Hamas over years and years.”
But he added: ‘Wwhether Iran knew in advance of this attack or helped plan or direct this attack, we have no confirmation of that at this time.’