To pressure the Biden administration into enforcing a law passed by the Trump administration and freezing Iran’s oil assets, House Republicans have written legislation.
One bill provision would require President Biden to reinstate the freezing of $6 billion in Iranian oil profits that were unfrozen earlier this year as part of a prisoner swap deal.
House Democrats’ support for President Biden’s nuclear deal with Iran will be evaluated in this resolution. After a terrorist attack by Hamas, whom Iran has long supported, on Israel, concerns about the agreement were raised again. Over 1,300 Israelis were killed in the incident.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), the bill’s primary sponsor, said on MSNBC that Iran supports Hamas because it is a terrorist group.
The unfreezed $6 billion has not been definitively traced to Hamas. Although Iran played a role in the attack, the Biden administration insists that the money will be used exclusively for humanitarian purposes.
According to the legislation, allowing Iran access to its frozen assets would increase available funds that might be used for any purpose- including terrorism and nuclear capability.
Montana Republican and bill cosponsor Rep. Ryan Zinke said it would have bipartisan support. All his Israeli friends said, ‘Look, this is what happens when America doesn’t lead.”
He blamed President Biden’s indecisiveness in the Middle East for the recent Hamas attacks and the pressing need to refreeze Iranian assets.
The Trump administration’s Taylor Force Act is specifically mandated for enforcement under this bill. Until the Palestinian Authority stops giving money to the Martyrs’ Fund, which provides money to the families of terrorists, the United States cannot give them any money.
Meanwhile, Republican senators are working on a bill to return the $6 billion in the freezer. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote the legislation.
Democrats like Montana’s Jon Tester and West Virginia’s Joe Manchin opposed Mr. Biden’s agreement with Iran, which improved the bill’s chances in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
