The House on Thursday passed a bill that would force the president to permanently freeze $6 billion in Iranian funds that were briefly made available to Tehran as part of a prisoner swap deal.
Under the deal, the US and Iran exchanged prisoners, and the US allowed the transfer of the $6 billion from South Korea to Qatar, where Iran would receive access to the money. But shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, the Biden administration decided to go back on the deal and cut off Iran’s access to the money.
The administration made the move due to pressure from Congress over claims that Iran was involved in the October 7 attack, even though there’s no indication it was. US intelligence determined Tehran was surprised by the Hamas assault, and Israel said it had no evidence of Iranian involvement.
The bill passed by the House on Thursday would make the administration’s move to freeze the Iranian funds permanent by requiring sanctions on any foreign entity that moves to make them available for Iran.
The legislation passed in a vote of 307-119 with 118 Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) opposing the bill.
“There’s no legal or moral authority for us to freeze or steal assets of other countries we are not at war with,” Massie wrote on X. “It’s also shortsighted for us to use our super-power status to force foreign banks to freeze assets of sovereign countries.”
Democrats defended President Biden’s diplomatic maneuvering that led to the deal and got five Americans out of prison. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) argued going back on the agreement would hurt US credibility.
The $6 billion was frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions on Iran that were re-imposed after the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, in 2018.
The U.S. is hopelessly corrupt. Easy to tell when they are lying … just see if they are talking or writing!!!!!
When Mr. Biden squints at his teleprompter, you just know he will vomit nonsensical word salad.
You might be right. But note that ALL Democrats opposed this bill.
No, not all the Democrats voted nay. But 117 of them and only one Republican.
De-dollarization will accelerate as a result of this action. The War Party only isolating our country
Next on the agenda: Israel will use tactical nukes on Iran, a country with no program to make its own nuclear bomb. We, the “indispensable nation”, will will allow it to happen, just as we are allowing the Zionists in Israel ethnically cleanse Gaza and the West Bank. I love my country (America), because, of course, I was born here. I do not like it.
“There’s no legal or moral authority for us to freeze or steal assets of other countries we are not at war with,” Massie. Agree with the legal part, but as to “moral authority,” my toilet is full of it right now. How much do we need?
Does it ever occur to these idiots that countries aren’t going to keep any foreign reserves in Western banks? If Uncle Scam decides to confiscate anything it’s gone.
Then again, the DC establishment doesn’t have any problem robbing the American people via taxes and inflation for endless wars and other odious endeavours.
The Saudis and others have been taking notes since the confiscation of Russian reserves last year … the $ will feel it one of these days. This is how empires end.
2022: China’s USA dollar reserves stood at $3.120 trillion.
As always the US honors its promises.
1. I don’t know about Rep. Massie’s social or domestic policies, but lately he’s a shining star in the foreign policy department.
2. BRICS and associates – how soon can all-y’all have a common currency in circulation ? I will no longer buy US Dollars to travel with (am Canadian and it’s often a thing we do) and would LOVE to support yours.
Sorry, the president already did that by going back on his own agreement. He could have easily claimed after Oct 7 that we had a deal and for the credibility of the US in future deals we have to live up to it, but instead he folded like a wet napkin.
The U.S. State Department has said that Iran provides up to $100 million annually in support to Palestinian groups including Hamas
Qatar has been providing aid to Gaza since 2012. According to the Associated Press, Qatar has provided a total of $1.3 billion
So, that’s around $1.1 billion from Iran and $1.3 billion from Qatar. One is a sworn enemy, and the other is a “major non-NATO ally” that hosts US troops.
Thievery. A violation of the 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution.
Why is it, I sense this is Israel’s bs?….
False statement! Iran had full access to its money from Day One…!
1796: President George Washington in his farewell address: counseled the new nation that in shaping its international relations, it should abjure any “passionate attachment” to, or “inveterate hatred” of, any other nation. Insteads, it should “cultivate peace and harmony with all. ” (The Passionate Attachment, George W. Ball and Douglas B. Ball, W W Norton & Company)
Well, they need money. With government running on month-to-month budget, it may be tempting to have a slush fund.
The yank stealing other countries money / , well i never lol.