On Tuesday, Sens. Jon Tester and Joe Manchin said they support letting the Iranian assets go back into circulation.
Along with Republicans, some Democratic Senators want the Biden administration to put back on hold the $6 billion in Iranian assets that were unfrozen after Hamas attacked Israel last month.
On Tuesday, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., wrote on the social media site X that he agreed with the idea of freezing the $6 billion in Iranian assets.
“As American intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided,” said the senator. “At a minimum, we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal.”
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., told Politico on Tuesday that he agreed with refreezing the assets worth $6 billion.
He told the magazine, “I wasn’t in favor of the initial $6 billion transfer.” “We should absolutely freeze these Iranian assets while we also consider additional sanctions.”
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Fox News Digital asked Manchin about the situation, but he didn’t answer right away.
The Biden administration made a deal with Iran in September to trade prisoners and help Iran get $6 billion that had been frozen.
As part of the deal, the U.S. freed five Iranian citizens who were being held in the U.S. and Iran freed five American citizens who were being held in Iran. The deal also made it possible to move $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar without worrying about breaking U.S. sanctions.
The money did not go straight to Iran, and it is said that no U.S. taxpayer money was used.
The money wasn’t frozen until almost a month before Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Saturday, killing many. Republicans in the House and Senate are criticizing the Biden administration for this action, calling it “false and misleading.”
“Just weeks ago, the Biden administration gave Iran $6 billion, and today, terrorists backed by Iran killed innocent Israelis,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said in a statement soon after the attacks. “We must continue to support our strongest ally in the Middle East and their right to defend themselves against these unprovoked, horrific attacks.”
According to the government, the money can only be used for good causes, and the US will keep an eye on how and when it is spent.
A White House spokesman, Jake Sullivan, told reporters that “not a dollar” of the money has been spent.
But some people say the money could be used in other ways. Iran has backed Hamas in the past and welcomed the attacks on Israel. In the past, the State Department said that Iran gives about $100 million a year to Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other armed Palestinian groups.
