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Published November 15, 2023, 9:08 PM ET
Republicans and foreign policy experts on Wednesday condemned the Biden administration’s “reckless and dangerous” move to renew a sanctions relief against Iran that would give the U.S. adversary access to $10 billion in escrow accounts.
The 120-day waiver, approved by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, allows the Iranian regime to access the funds from Iraq in exchange for electricity purchases.
The renewal comes amid increasing attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. forces and just over a month after the Iran-backed terror group Hamas slaughtered 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, sparking significant criticism.
“On the same day that the largest pro-Israel rally in American history took place, Joe Biden’s administration granted Iran another sanctions relief to gain access to $10 billion – the same regime that gave Iran a further sanctions relief “We are supporting the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which Israel is courageously fighting.” “American and Israeli hostages are still being held,” Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement X contribution.
“Add to that the $6 billion ransom the Biden administration paid Iran on 9/11 and lax oil sanctions that are flooding the mullahs with cash from China. At the same time, “Iran continues to provide safe haven to the leader of al-Qaeda, its proxies attack U.S. forces and hire hitmen to attempt to kidnap or assassinate former U.S. officials and dissidents,” the Republican presidential candidate added from 2024 added.
Ron DeSantis called the move “reckless and dangerous.” ZUMAPRESS.com
“Reckless and dangerous doesn’t even begin to describe the wreckage Biden leaves behind,” DeSantis said.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley also criticized the lifting of sanctions, arguing that it made the U.S. “look like idiots.”
“Iran’s proxies are attacking American troops abroad and have just killed dozens of our citizens in Israel. “Joe Biden needs to wake up – we look like idiots paying terrorists to attack us and chanting ‘Death to America,'” she tweeted.
Nikki Haley argued that extending the exemption would make the US “look like idiots.” AP
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) called the Biden administration’s move “unconscionable,” and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said it was “madness.”
“Iran financially supports Hamas’ terrorism. Why would Biden want to send another $10 billion to Tehran? asked Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, called the waiver extension an “appeasement.”
“After refusing to permanently freeze the $6 billion ransom payment to Iran, the government released an additional $10 billion. “This policy of appeasement only encourages the Iranian regime and its proxies to continue their attacks on American troops and our allies,” Cotton wrote on X.
U.S. officials argue that extending the waiver was necessary to prevent Iraq from being cut off from a key energy source. The State Department also notes that under the terms of the waiver, Iran can only use the funds to purchase non-sanctioned products such as humanitarian goods such as food and medicine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the 120-day extension of the exemption on Tuesday. AFP via Getty Images
But foreign policy and national security experts are skeptical that Iran will not use the windfall to continue its violent campaign against the United States and Israel.
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, argued that President Biden deserves “great credit” for his support of Israel but “strong condemnation” for giving the green light to lifting sanctions, pointing out “That the Iranian regime was the “main financier” and arms supplier for the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel.”
“It is inconceivable that he would provide $10 billion to a regime that reverses course and uses that money to wage war against America and Israel,” Dubowitz said in an analysis of the waiver.
The waiver will allow Iran to spend around $10 billion on humanitarian supplies.Portal
FDD senior adviser Richard Goldberg added that “the idea of giving $10 billion to the sponsor of all this evil makes little sense,” citing the 55 attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq and in Syria since October 17th.
“Congress was right to push to freeze the $6 billion in Qatar; “It should happen quickly to secure this $10 billion,” argued Goldberg.
Shortly after the U.S. released the $6 billion to Iran in September, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Tehran would use the money “wherever we need it,” leading to concerns that the regime would use the funds would be spent for nefarious purposes.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller defended the waiver on Tuesday, claiming Iran would continue its “destabilizing activities” regardless of whether the waiver is granted.
“These are exemptions that go back to 2018. We have seen Iran continue its destabilizing activities during this time, just as it did before the Trump administration issued the first of these waivers in 2018, which is why we have held them accountable through attacks against their proxy militias the region,” said Miller.
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