Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Pressure Biden To Get Tough With Iran
In the wake of recent Hamas attacks on Israel, more than 110 House Representatives have called for a tougher stance against the regime in Iran.
In the wake of recent Hamas attacks on Israel, more than 110 House Representatives have called for a tougher stance against the regime in Iran.
In a letter published Monday night, the lawmakers (63 Democrats and 50 Republicans) urge President Biden to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its ongoing financial support of Hamas.
“We urge the Administration to take all necessary steps to cut off Iranian funding sources,” the letter reads. “This includes maximum enforcement of all US sanctions and taking any and all steps to end Iran’s oil trade to China, which currently brings in $150 million per day in revenue.”
This House initiative is the latest in a long line of Congressional efforts in the past few weeks, aiming to force the Biden administration to exert more pressure on Iran, restricting the regime’s access to funds, in particular.
Top Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have praised Hamas for the brutal attack on Israel that killed more than 1,300 civilians. On Tuesday, Khamenei dismissed those deaths, saying that Israeli civilians have weapons and are considered combatants.
In a separate initiative Tuesday, a group of Senate Republicans demanded once more that the administration refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue that was released as part of a deal to free five hostages from Tehran.
“We know that Iran bankrolls Hamas,” said Senator Balckburn, leading the group. “It is perplexing why this administration refuses to issue a formal decision to freeze the $6 billion. We need to ensure that not another dollar goes to Iran.”
Many US lawmakers have visibly lost patience with Biden over what they see as unwarranted leniency towards the Islamic Republic, which seems to have led to a replenishment of the regime’s coffers after a period of hardship brought about by President Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’.
Senator George Marshall, one of the more vocal members of the Senatorial group who demanded the ‘refreeze’ on Tuesday, claimed that under Biden, Iran's currency reserves have gone “from $6 billion to $60 billion” because the regime has been allowed to sell “a billion dollars’ worth of oil every week to China.”
“Iran has played Joe Biden like a cheap fiddle,” said Senator Marshal. “Joe Biden has ignored sanctions for two years now, and now he’s lifting those sanctions.”
On October 18, the UN ballistic missile sanctions will expire under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). As things stands, President Biden will arrive in Israel on the same day that he allows UN sanctions to be lifted on Iran’s capability to purchase and supply missiles.
“This cannot be allowed to happen,” write the Representative in their letter to Biden. “We urge your Administration to work with our European allies to immediately implement snapback sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council.”
President Biden in Israel is expected to urge Netanyahu to allow humanitarian aid for Gaza while exploring all routes that may help retrieve the American hostages taken by Hamas during their incursion into Israel.
More than 1,500 were killed in the attack, including soldiers. Neearly twice that number have been killed so far by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Many fear that a looming Israeli ground invasion would dramatically increase the number of casualties and bring into the war other regional actors like Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has reportedly stockpiled tens of thousands of rockets since its last war with Israel in 2006. The group has been funded by the Islamic Republic, which sees it as an strategic ally in Israel's backyard.
Critics of the Biden administration believe its reluctance to pressure Iran in the hope of a nuclear deal has emboldened not only the regime but its proxies across the region.
Those most vocal, like Senator Ted Cruz, are going beyond the usual critique and accuse the administration of letting in ‘compromised’ individuals who have then influenced foreign policy.
On Tuesday, Senator Cruz once more addressed this issue in an interview with Fox News.
“Rob Malley, Biden’s Special Envoy to Iran, appointed Iranian operatives to key positions in the US government,” he said. “Democrats have yet to allow the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold a hearing about this. This is disgraceful.”
“Some officials in certain countries, who have spoken with our officials, have protested in defense of the Zionist occupiers as to why Palestinians have killed civilians,” Khamenei stated.
“Firstly, this statement is contrary to the truth. Those who live in [Israeli] settlements are not civilians. They are all armed. Even if we assume they are non-combatants, how many non-combatants have been killed? The regime is now killing hundred times more women, children, the elderly, and the youth non-combatants who are in these buildings in Gaza, not the combatants who are not residing there. The combatants are in their own positions, and they also know this.” Khamenei said.
The Islamic Republic, led by the 83-year-old authoritarian ruler, has been financially and militarily supporting Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah and other militant organization designated as terrorist groups by several Western countries. Top Iranian officials and government media rejoiced the news of Hamas’ attack on October 7, after the enormity of civilian massacre has already emerged. The government ordered street celebration and vowed to continue support for Hamas.
Khamenei went on to blame the United States for directing Israeli policies in the past one week, as Israel has been launching devastating air and artillery attacks against northern Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed and injured, as Hamas tries to prevent the population to move to less dangerous areas.
“They have to be prosecuted. The American government should also recognize its responsibility in this matter,” Khamenei said, and added, “Based on information we have, Americans are charting Israeli policies in the past one week. Americans should take responsibility, they are responsible. The bombings must be immediately stopped. Muslim nations are angry. Very angry. You see the signs of it, demonstrations by groups of people, not only in Islamic countries but also in Los Angeles, in the Netherlands, in France, in European countries, in Western countries. People are gathering, both Muslims and non-Muslims.”
He also warned that Muslims and the “resistance groups” might retaliate if “this crime continues.” It would be hard to prevent retaliation Khamenei said, quipping that in any case, “no matter what the Zionist regime does, it won't be able to compensate for the embarrassing defeat it suffered in this matter.”
Many Islamic republic officials and government entities have been sanctioned by the West over the years for their gross human rights violation against the Iranian population. Since September 2022, when widespread anti-regime protests broke out, security forces have killed well over 500 civilians and severely wounded hundreds. Many young protesters were targeted by shotgun pellets in the face and lost one or both eyes. The regime also arrested 22,000 people, including journalists and hundreds of minors.
At the same time, a deputy commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted by state media on Tuesday as saying that Israel will face another shockwave by the resistance front if its "atrocities" do not stop in Gaza.
"The resistance front's shocks against the Zionist regimes (Israel) will continue until this 'cancerous tumor' is eradicated from the world map," said Ali Fadavi.
"Another shockwave is on the way, if Israel does not end atrocities in Gaza."
Since the Hamas attack, the Iranian regime has mostly put aside its pretenses, showing clearly that Hamas and Hezbollah are virtually under their command.