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Politico: President Joe Biden is under increasing pressure from Republican lawmakers to take action against Iran following a recent attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas. GOP senators, led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, are urging the administration to refreeze the $6 billion that was released to Iran last month as part of a prisoner exchange deal. They argue that the funds enable Iran to support groups like Hamas, which has been backed by Iran for years. “Giving Iran $6 billion — even if for humanitarian aid — allows them to reallocate other funds to supporting terrorism,” Blackburn tweeted.
The Biden administration has insisted that the funds are earmarked for humanitarian use and will be closely monitored to prevent misuse. Despite this, Republicans have been skeptical, stating in a letter that “Money is fungible, and there is significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.”
While it’s widely acknowledged that Iran supports Hamas, U.S. officials have yet to find definitive evidence implicating Iran in the recent attacks on Israel. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also denied any involvement, although he did praise Hamas’ actions.
Debate over Iran’s role has been further fueled by a Wall Street Journal report citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, which claims Iranian security officials helped plan the attack. However, Israeli military spokespeople and analysts have been cautious about endorsing these claims. “We have no evidence or proof” that Iran was behind it, said Maj. Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces.
The Republican calls for action against Iran come amidst divided opinions on whether Tehran had a direct role in the recent attacks. Some have even called for U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets, amplifying the tension surrounding the issue.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/10/republicans-biden-iran-hamas-00120713
