BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES SANCTIONS ON HAMAS FUNDING SOURCES; ISSA INTRODUCES BILL TO FURTHER RESTRICT IRANIAN FUNDS

By Miriam Raftery

Image: Iranian flag 

November 1, 2023 (San Diego) – The Biden administration this week has imposed new sanctions  aimed at cutting off funding for Hamas, amid growing evidence that Iran provided weapons and training to Hamas prior to the terror group’s deadly attack on Israel. 

The New York Times reports that the new U.S. sanctions target:

• Companies and investors that Hamas uses to hide its control of assets
• Members of Iran’s military that train Hamas
• Members of Hezbollah and Palestinian Jihad, which have also attacked Israel
• A Jordanian national, Khaled Qaddoumi, who lives in Iran and acts as a liaison between Iran and Hamas.

The U.S.and Qatar have also agreed to block Iran’s access to $6 billion that was part of a deal to release five Americans imprisoned in Iran. None of that money has been spent, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has confirmed.

That money, Iranian oil revenues, had been previously blocked but after the prisoners were released, it was transferred from South Korea to Qatar. The White House has said safeguards were in place to assure the money could only be spent by Iran on humanitarian aid such as food or medical needs.

But after the Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said Iran will no longer have access to those funds for the foreseeable future.

San Diego Republican Congressman Darrell Issa has introduced a bill titled  the “No Funds for Iran-Backed Terror Act.” He has criticized the Biden administration fo waiving some sanctions on Iran in the past year. 

Issa’s bill would mandate full enforcement of oil sanctions for Iran. The bill, if enacted, would reinstate permanent sanctions on the frozen Iranian funds and prohibit waivers.