Due to the recent Israel-Palestine War escalating, the Biden administration is refreezing $6 billion in Iranian assets.
The New York Times broke the news Thursday, noting it is not determined whether the move is temporary or permanent.
This comes after former President Donald Trump urged the Biden administration to refreeze the Iranian assets.
President Joe Biden has received harsh criticism for unfreezing the assets last month in a deal to have five U.S. hostages released, per the Associated Press. The Biden administration also asserts the funds have yet to be utilized amid allegations that Iran funded the Hamas terror attacks that sparked the Israel-Palestine war.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Iran is one of the largest donors to the Palestinian terrorist group.
The Wall Street Journal reported Iran aided Hamas in plotting its deadly attack on Israel, which was carried out last weekend.
Last month, Trump warned that unfreezing the $6 billion would “put a bounty on the head of every American citizen abroad.”
The Biden administration confirmed Americans are among the estimated 150 hostages taken by Hamas, via the Associated Press.
Whether the refreezing will prevent Iran from further funding Hamas is unclear, but war has already been declared.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) posted about the situation on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “Biden may have finally realized that appeasing Iran emboldens them to fund their terrorist proxies.”
Biden may have finally realized that appeasing Iran emboldens them to fund their terrorist proxies.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 13, 2023
We need a permanent freeze on the $6 billion to Iran.
“We need a permanent freeze on the $6 billion to Iran.”
ACT for America Founder and Chairman Brigitte Gabriel posted, “It shouldn’t have taken the lives of 1,300+ Israelis to do the right thing.”
The Biden Administration has now reversed course on the $6 billion to Iran.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) October 12, 2023
Qatar and the US will be freezing the funds indefinitely.
It shouldn’t have taken the lives of 1,300+ Israelis to do the right thing.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also commented, “This is the second time in 2 years Americans have been stuck in a war zone. And Joe Biden has a lot to answer for.”
This is the second time in 2 years Americans have been stuck in a war zone. And Joe Biden has a lot to answer for.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 13, 2023
Why did he take so long to help Americans in Israel? And why did he offer up $6 billion to the terrorist government of Iran? pic.twitter.com/tzZwimLdns
He then asked, “Why did he take so long to help Americans in Israel? And why did he offer up $6 billion to the terrorist government of Iran?”