Iran Barred From Accessing $6 Billion Released By U.S. For Humanitarian Aid, Report Says

Topline

The U.S. and the Qatari government will prevent Iran from accessing $6 billion in humanitarian aid funded by Iranian oil sales that was unfrozen by the United States earlier this year as part of a prisoner swap, Wally Adeyemo, deputy Treasury secretary, told House Democrats on Thursday, the Washington Post reported, following widespread backlash over alleged ties between Iran and Hamas’ attacks on Israel.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo reportedly said Thursday that the $6 billion in … [+] humanitarian money to Iran that was freed up in September will not be accessible to Iran as part of a quiet agreement between the U.S. and Qatari governments. (Johanna Geron, Pool Photo via AP)

Associated Press

Key Facts

Republicans have been critical of President Joe Biden since the war between Hamas and Israel began over the weekend—Iran has backed Hamas for years, though its direct connection to Saturday’s attack on Israel remains unclear.

The agreement to unfreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets was made last month and was part of a deal to release five Americans previously imprisoned by Iran in exchange for five Iranian prisoners—though the money is only able to be used for humanitarian purposes.

Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee began the call for the Biden Administration to refreeze the $6 billion in assets two days ago out of concern there “is significant risk (the funds) could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.”

Key Background

Over the years, Iran has provided weapons and support to Hamas, leading American officials to investigate whether Iran had an active role in Saturday’s initial attack on Israel. Officials have been looking into whether Hamas militants received training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ahead of the attack, NBC News reported. As of Thursday afternoon, officials believe Iran was surprised by the attack and was not directly involved, according to CBS. Regardless of whether Iran played a direct role, U.S. officials have said the attack wouldn’t have been possible without funding, weapons and training from Iran over the years. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Iran was “complicit in this attack in a broad sense,” CBS reported.

Tangent

Earlier in the week, Treasury secretary Janet Yellen said she wasn’t ruling out refreezing the funds if it was determined that Iran had a role in the attacks. But, in a statement to the Washington Post, the United Nations said the U.S. government was “acutely aware that they can NOT renege on the agreement,” adding the “money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran.”