Bipartisan Lawmakers Press Biden Admin to Refreeze $6 Billion in Iranian Assets After Hamas Attacks

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Oct. 3, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Jackson Richman

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Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

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October 12, 2023Updated: October 12, 2023

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There have been bipartisan calls for the Biden administration to refreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets in light of the latest Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.

The United States unfroze $6 billion in Iranian assets last month as part of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which supports Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Those assets are held in the Qatari banking system.

The Biden administration has said that there is no definitive proof that Iran was behind the Hamas attacks, even though The Wall Street Journal reported otherwise.

“Until I have full confidence that Iran did not play a role in these barbaric terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, the United States should freeze the $6 billion dollars in Iranian assets,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) said in an Oct. 11 statement.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) posted on X, formerly Twitter: “The challenges we see today are what happen when you give $6 billion to people who fund terrorism. We must freeze those assets and send a message to the world that we stand with Israel.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.) posted on X: “Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, has provided financial & military support to Hamas for years. In light of Hamas’s violent & horrific terrorist attack on Israel, the administration must freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar.”

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told Fox News on Oct. 11, “We need to lean in as Congress and make sure that we refreeze whatever of that $6 billion that President Biden has unfrozen, make sure it does not get into the hands of Iran.”

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said in an Oct. 11 statement: “Iran has a long and storied track record of malign behavior and supporting terrorism worldwide, including Hamas and Hezbollah. As we learn more about Iran’s role in these horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, one thing is clear: we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in assets and use available tools to discourage Iran’s illicit conduct.”

Sen. Marsha Blackburn posted on X on Oct. 9: “President Biden is refusing to freeze the $6 billion ransom payment to Iran because he is afraid to admit it was a catalyst for the attacks. He still has time to limit the damage. Enough politics. @POTUS—freeze the $6 billion now.”

Ms. Blackburn led a GOP letter to President Biden, calling on him to freeze the $6 billion. Along with Ms. Blackburn, 19 other Republicans signed onto the letter.

“I wasn’t supportive of the initial $6 billion transfer. We should absolutely freeze these Iranian assets while we also consider additional sanctions,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) told Politico.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) will try to pass legislation to refreeze the $6 billion.

“The civilized world must reimpose serious consequences on the regime that aids and abets murderous evil against innocent Israelis,” Mr. McConnell said in an Oct. 11 statement. “The United States must lead that effort by our example, and freezing Iranian assets is an important first step.”

Mr. Cotton said in an Oct. 11 statement: “The Biden administration’s decision to let Iran access the $6 billion immediately freed up other money for the regime to fund its attacks in Israel. The Biden administration should immediately refreeze the funds.”

In an Oct. 11 statement, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, expressed support for the measure.

“As we work to hold any state sponsors of terrorism accountable, the administration must freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets,” he said.

However, it’s likely that at least one senator will object to it and, therefore, the bill would need to go through regular order. Whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-N.Y.), who controls what comes onto the floor of the upper congressional chamber, will bring it up for a vote is to be determined.

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