Nikki Haley blasts Biden admin as irresponsible for insisting there’s no link between $6 billion of US cash and Hamas’ attack on Israel – and warns Iran could enter through the southern border: ‘We don’t need to wait for another 9/11’
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley tore into Anthony Blinken on Sunday after the secretary of state insisted the release of $6 billion to Iran had no role in Saturday’s attack.
Haley, who served as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, warned that his successor’s “open borders” policy left the US vulnerable to a similar attack.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet The Press, Blinken said Iran has yet to see a cent of the $6 billion in sanctioned oil revenue earmarked for “humanitarian purposes” last month in exchange for five American prisoners.
But Haley told the same program that Iran is already banking on the money to fund its terror campaign.
“It was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that the $6 billion doesn’t weigh here,” she added.
“I mean, let’s be honest with the American people and understand that Hamas knows and Iran knows that they’re moving money around as we speak because they know 6 billion is going to be released.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken insisted that Iran spent none of the $6 billion they received in a cash-for-hostages deal, but Nikki Haley said they were spending on account.
“This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said when asked about a deal to unlock $6 billion in oil revenue as part of a deal to free five American citizens.
Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel on Saturday
“That’s the reality.”
The former South Carolina governor said she knew from her dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency that funds released by previous administrations went to militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
“They go and spread terrorism every time they get $1,” she added.
“It’s not about the Iranian people. It does go to terrorist attacks, and Secretary Blinken, it’s just wrong to imply that this money isn’t being moved around as we speak.’
The deal with Iran helped free US citizens Siamak Namazi, 51, Emad Sharqi, 59, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, a US-UK duel, as well as two unidentified US citizens.
Five Iranians detained in the US were also released under the terms.
“Not a single cent has been spent from that account,” Blinken said.
“When any money is spent from that account, it can only be used for medical supplies, for food, for medicine, and those who say otherwise are either misinformed or misinformed, and either way it’s wrong.”
But Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi laughed off the idea that Tehran’s spending would be controlled.
“This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and of course we will decide — the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide — to spend it wherever we need it,” he told NBC last month.
“Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need, so this money will be budgeted for those needs. And the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.’
US officials arranged a group photo after freed Americans Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi arrived back in the US last month
Blinken said he had “not yet seen evidence” that Iran was involved in the attack that killed at least 700 people, but he acknowledged that Israel’s growing ties with its Arab neighbors may have inspired the terrorists.
“It is no surprise that those who are opposed to the talks, those who are opposed to Israel normalizing its relations with its neighbors and with countries outside the region are: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.”
But senior members of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah claimed the attack had been given the green light by Iranian security officials.
Hamas planned the air, land and sea incursions with the help of officers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a Wall Street Journal report, with final approval given at a Monday meeting in Beirut.
Haley, now second only to Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination according to some recent polls, said that Hamas’ attack should serve as a “wake-up call” for the US itself.
“We have an open border,” he claimed.
‘People come through. They are not screened. We don’t have to wait for another 9/11.
“You also look at the fact that America is incredibly distracted and incredibly divided, and when America is distracted, the world is less safe.
‘And look what happened to Israel. They’ve been waiting to be distracted, and that’s when your enemies move in. America needs to wake up.’