The United States and Qatari government will save Iran $6 billion in humanitarian aid funded through Iranian oil sales that were thawed through the United States earlier this year as part of a prisoner swap, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said Thursday. House Democrats. reported the Washington Post, following widespread backlash over Iran’s alleged links to Hamas attacks on Israel.
Republicans have criticized President Joe Biden since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel over the weekend. Iran has supported Hamas for years, though its direct link to Saturday’s attack on Israel remains unclear.
The deal to unfreeze Iran’s $6 billion in assets was reached last month and was part of a deal to release five Americans imprisoned in the past through Iran in exchange for five Iranian prisoners, though the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes.
Two days ago, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee called on Biden’s leadership to refreeze the $6 billion in assets, fearing that “there is a significant threat that (the funds) could simply be used to continue Iran’s or Hamas’ efforts against Israel. “”.
Over the years, Iran has provided weapons and aid to Hamas, prompting U. S. officials to investigate whether Iran played an active role in Saturday’s initial attack on Israel. Officials tried to determine whether Hamas militants had obtained education from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before. Until Thursday afternoon, officials believed Iran had been caught off guard by the attack and was not directly involved, according to CBS. Regardless of whether Iran played a direct role or not, U. S. officials said the attack would not have been imaginable without Iran’s funding, weapons and education over the years. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Iran was “complicit in this broader attack,” CBS reported.
Earlier in the week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she did not rule out refreezing the budget if it was decided that Iran played a role in the attacks. But, in a Washington Post article, the United Nations said the U. S. government was “fully aware that it can NOT renege on the agreement,” adding that “the money rightfully belongs to the Iranian people. “