Scrutiny Surrounds US $6 Billion Iran Deal following Hamas Attack on Israel

The US government has stated that Iran has not accessed the money agreed upon in a prisoner swap, leading to criticism of the deal. According to reports, the US has a tacit agreement with Qatar to keep the $6 billion funds frozen. However, Iran's mission to the UN has argued that the US cannot back out of the agreement. The US has denied any direct link between Iran and the recent Hamas attack on Israel. The frozen funds were part of a deal that resulted in the release of five US-Iranian prisoners. US President Joe Biden's administration has faced backlash from Republicans who claim that releasing the funds has empowered Iran's support for Hamas. Although Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo assured House Democrats that the money is not going anywhere, the White House did not confirm reports of the freeze. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken provided information about the funds, stating that they are Iran's oil money held in Qatar, reserved for essential items and requiring US approval for transactions. The complexity of the mechanism has prevented its activation thus far. Freezing the funds at this time could have consequences, including potentially emboldening hardliners in Iran and leading to further arrests of US-Iranian citizens. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has implicated Iran in funding the military wing of Hamas, but the US has been unable to verify direct involvement in the recent attack. Pressure from both Democratic and Republican senators has urged President Biden to halt the funds from going to Iran. However, Iran's mission to the UN has emphasized that the US cannot renege on the agreement as the money is intended for essential items for the people of Iran.