Senate Democrats revolt against Biden sending $6 billion to Iran

A version of this story appeared in the On Background newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive On Background delivered directly to your inbox each Friday.

President Biden is facing a growing rebellion in his party over his $6 billion deal brokered this summer with Iran in exchange for the release of American prisoners.

At least eight Senate Democrats, nearly all of whom have tough races next year in competitive states, said the assets should remain frozen until more intelligence is gathered about whether Iran played a direct role — and to what degree — in the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.

Those Democrats included Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. Ms. Cortez Masto is the only one not up for reelection. Arizona Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who caucuses with Democrats and is up for reelection but undecided if she’ll run, also said the money should be kept out of Iran’s reach.

“Until I have full confidence that Iran did not play a role in these barbaric terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, the United States should freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets,” Ms. Baldwin said.

“At a minimum,” the U.S. should take such action, Mr. Tester said.

Mr. Casey issued similar remarks but also accused Republicans of “intentionally misleading the American people” about the funds being tied to the Hamas attack.

The funds are oil assets currently under the control of Qatar’s central bank that have not yet been dispersed to Iran.

“Attempts to divide the United States in moments like that only bolster our enemies,” Mr. Casey said.

Under a deal brokered in August that drew widespread criticism, Mr. Biden agreed to unfreeze the $6 billion in exchange for Tehran releasing five Americans who the U.S. said were wrongly detained by Iran.

The Democrats against unfreezing the money could soon get their way with the help of GOP colleagues.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas plan to ask for unanimous consent of the Senate to pass legislation to block the release of the funds. Any senator can object and block the bill’s passage, putting Democrats on the spot to actively defend Mr. Biden’s deal.

A definitive link has not been drawn between Iran and Hamas for the latest attack that killed more than 1,000 Israelis and at least 22 U.S. citizens, although Tehran has long supported the Hamas terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, including providing money, weapons and training to Hamas.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday acknowledged Iran’s ties to terrorism and that the country “is complicit in this attack in a broad sense.”

Republicans also preparing for a congressional investigation into Mr. Biden’s prisoner swap.

“I know the administration is loath to peg Iran as responsible, but I think all roads lead to Iran,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Texas Republican. “The idea that we traded hostages in exchange for $6 billion of sanctions relief to Iran is very frightening to me.”

The Biden administration has so far refused to change course. The American prisoners were returned to the U.S. in September.

White House officials emphasized that the $6 billion could not have aided Hamas’ attack because it’s yet to be unfrozen. They also insist the funds will be used for humanitarian aid and additional action will be taken if it’s determined the money was used for other purposes.

The position has forced many rank-and-file Democrats on Capitol Hill to also go on defense.

“The United States does not regret bringing home American citizens who have been unjustly detained abroad,” Mr. Sullivan said Tuesday. “We stand by bringing those people home because that is the duty of the commander-in-chief, is to get innocent Americans out of captivity in places that they are being unjustly detained.”