Current:Home > InvestHouse passes resolution to block Iran’s access to $6 billion from prisoner swap -AssetLink
House passes resolution to block Iran’s access to $6 billion from prisoner swap
View
Date:2025-04-23 23:49:40
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a bipartisan measure Thursday that would block Iran from ever accessing the $6 billion recently transferred by the U.S. in a prisoner swap, a step Republicans pushed in response to the nation’s alleged role in the deadly attacks last month by Hamas on Israel.
The measure — titled the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act — passed 307-119 as Republicans sought to hold the Biden administration accountable for what they call their complicity in funding Iranian-backed terrorism in the Middle East.
“With such instability in the region, the last thing we need to do is to give access to $6 billion to be diverted to more Iranian-sponsored terrorism,” Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during a debate.
U.S. officials have rebuffed this criticism, noting that not a single dollar has yet to be made available to Iran and insisting that when it is, it can only be used for humanitarian needs.
Republican critics like McCaul say that despite the money being restricted to aid, it is fungible, and could free up other funds for Tehran to provide support to Hamas like they believe it did before it attacked Israel in early October.
The U.S. and Iran reached the tentative agreement in August that eventually saw the release of five detained Americans in Tehran and an unknown number of Iranians imprisoned in the U.S. after billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets were transferred from banks in South Korea to Qatar. But days after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the U.S. and Qatar agreed that Iran would not be able to access the money in the meantime, with officials stopping short of a full refreezing of the funds.
The GOP-backed resolution, which now goes to the Senate where it is unlikely to be supported by the Democratic majority, would impose new sanctions on the funds to prevent the transfer of any monies to Iran. It also threatens to sanction any government or individual involved in processing the transfer of the funds.
Several Democrats who opposed the measure defended the Biden administration’s decision to transfer the money in exchange for American hostages, especially in light of the American hostages now being kept by Hamas in Gaza.
“Iran, of course, as Hamas, is a murderous and corrupt regime. They’re not pleasant. And this isn’t easy,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during the floor debate. “But thanks to this agreement, five American families are now home again.”
He added, “And Iran has lost the leverage of holding these American hostages.”
The complex deal between Washington and Tehran came together over the summer after months of indirect negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials. But the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas has inflamed criticism of the deal as Iran has historically maintained strong ties with both Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
High-ranking U.S. officials have sought to defend the decision to negotiate with Iran despite its track record of supporting terrorism against the U.S. and its allies. But officials have also conceded that Iran’s influence over the various militant groups is undeniable.
“Hamas wouldn’t be around in the way that it is without the support that it’s received from Iran over the years,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during interviews after the attack. But he acknowledged that “we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack.”
veryGood! (5)
Related
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Doc Rivers set to become head coach of Milwaukee Bucks: Here's his entire coaching resume
- Inside Pregnant Giannina Gibelli and Blake Horstmann's Tropical Babymoon Getaway
- Billy Idol talks upcoming pre-Super Bowl show, recent Hoover Dam performance, working on a new album
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Philadelphia prisoner being held on murder charge escapes, police warn public
- Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership, lifting key hurdle to entry into military alliance
- Rauw Alejandro, Peso Pluma, Maluma headline Sueños 2024, Chicago's Latino music festival
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Ice Spice and everything nice: How the Grammys best new artist nominee broke the mold
Ranking
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Evers in State of the State address vows to veto any bill that would limit access to abortions
- Russia’s top diplomat accuses US, South Korea and Japan of preparing for war with North Korea
- The Challenge Alums Johnny Bananas, CT and More Share Secrets of Their Past in New Series
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- A child dies after being rescued along with 59 other Syrian migrants from a boat off Cyprus
- It's Apple Macintosh's 40th birthday: How the historic computer compares with tech today
- Netflix wants to retire basic ad-free plan in some countries, shareholder letter says
Recommendation
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Justin Timberlake will perform a free concert in New York City: How to score tickets
Alabama's Kalen DeBoer won't imitate LSU's Brian Kelly and adopt fake southern accent
A manifesto for feeding 8 billion people
Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
NBA midseason awards: Who wins MVP? Most improved? Greatest rookie?
Remaining landslide victims found in China, bringing death toll to 44
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant further delays removal of melted fuel debris