A group of centrist Senate Democrats is calling for $6 billion in Iran assets to be refrozen following the Hamas attack in Israel, joining Senate Republicans in the rallying cry against the Biden administration.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said Tuesday that lawmakers “should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided,” including freezing the $6 billion in assets “at a minimum.” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told POLITICO he would support doing the same.
“I wasn’t supportive of the initial $6 billion transfer. We should absolutely freeze these Iranian assets while we also consider additional sanctions,” Manchin said.
Sen. Jacky Rosen echoed that sentiment: “In light of Hamas’s violent and horrific terrorist attack on Israel and Iran’s long-standing support for Hamas, we should freeze these assets,” the Nevada Democrat said in a statement to POLITICO.
The Biden administration unfroze the assets as part of a deal last month that secured the release of five American prisoners in Iran. The conditions of the deal require the funds to be used for humanitarian purposes only.
But amid questions over whether and how Iran may have supported the weekend attack on Israel — which has left hundreds dead — some lawmakers are concerned Iran could use the funds for unauthorized purposes.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday said “not a dollar” of the unfrozen money has been spent yet, but did not commit to ensuring the money doesn’t reach Iran in the first place.
Other Senate Democrats voiced concerns about Iran on Tuesday, but weren’t yet ready to call for a freeze.
“I am speaking with my colleagues, the administration, the Israeli government, and the Jewish community in Ohio and across the country to assess the next steps, looking at every tool available to support Israel and defeat Hamas,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said.
Intelligence Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) was also asked about the $6 billion in Iranian assets: “This was clearly an attack that was planned for months or longer, the notion that somehow there is a relationship there doesn’t pass the smell test.”
