Biden Unfreezes $6B of Iranian Assets, Accused of Funding Both Sides of War
OAN’s Daniel Baldwin
5:05 PM – Monday, September 18, 2023
The United States and Iran exchanged five prisoners on Monday in a deal that saw President Joe Biden unfreeze nearly $6 billion in Iranian assets held in South Korean banks. The U.S. maintained that this money will only be utilized for humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine. But Clare Lopez, the founder and president of Lopez Liberty LLC, says this may not be true.
“Money’s fungible and were that money to be used for let’s say humanitarian purposes,” Lopez told One America News. “That frees up another $6 billion some other place that will unmistakably, unarguably go to nuclear weapons production. It will go to terror support Islamic jihad groups in the Middle East and, and further abroad.”
Lopez even pointed out this deal could free up money that could go towards drones that Iran sends to Russia to use in the war in Ukraine.
“It will probably also go towards more Iranian drones being sent to Russia to be used against the Ukrainian people,” Lopez said. “So, in a way, the Biden Administration is going to be funding both sides of that war.”
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told NBC News in an interview that the $6 billion that will be unfrozen thanks to Biden’s prisoner swap “belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and naturally, we will decide, the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide to spend it wherever we need it.”
Former President Donald Trump railed against the deal in a Truth Social post, saying “Once you pay, you always pay, & MANY MORE HOSTAGES WILL BE TAKEN.”
“The price paid at nearly $6 billion amounts to something like $1.2 billion per hostage,” Lopez said. “What more incentive does that regime need to take? More hostages, the price keeps going up.”
The White House released a statement from Biden celebrating the release of the five American hostages.
“Today, five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home,” Biden said.
The exchange comes on the heels of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany criticizing Iran in a joint statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Iran’s alleged failure to its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan (JCPoA) of Action.
“The IAEA reports show Iran has continued to accumulate enriched uranium far beyond JCPoA limits, at 5%, 20% and, most alarming, at 60%. This means that the weight of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is now over 18 times the amount permitted under the JCPoA,” the three countries stressed.
“I don’t know why anybody would think after all these years that Iran is not on the verge of deploying nuclear weapons or that it has not already built, in my opinion, a small handful probably of nuclear warheads,” Lopez said.
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What are the potential consequences and risks associated with unfreezing these funds in terms of hostage situations and future ransom demands
Title: Controversial Prisoner Swap Raises Concerns over Iran’s Fund Allocation
Introduction
In a recent prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran, President Joe Biden unfroze approximately $6 billion in Iranian assets held in South Korean banks. While the U.S. asserts that these funds will be utilized solely for humanitarian purposes, critics voice concerns that the money may ultimately be diverted towards advancing Iran’s nuclear weapons program and supporting terrorist activities. This article delves into the differing viewpoints surrounding this controversial deal.
Questioning the Purpose of Unfrozen Funds
Clare Lopez, the founder and president of Lopez Liberty LLC, argues that the unfrozen funds may not be exclusively used for humanitarian purposes. According to her, the fungibility of money means that freeing up this $6 billion will inevitably enable the allocation of additional funds towards nuclear weapons production and supporting extremist groups both in the Middle East and beyond.
Lopez further highlights the possibility that the funds could be directed towards acquiring drones for use in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, potentially exacerbating tensions and furnishing the Iran-Russia alliance with additional military capabilities.
Responsibility and Consequences
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asserts that the unfrozen funds belong exclusively to the Islamic Republic of Iran, allowing the country the autonomy to spend it as they deem necessary. This assertion raises concerns as it potentially grants Iran the means to further their nuclear ambitions and support militant groups. Critics, including former President Donald Trump, argue that this deal sets a dangerous precedent by incentivizing hostage situations and future ransom demands.
The Cost of Freedom
Lopez emphasizes that the high price paid for the release of the American hostages, amounting to approximately $1.2 billion per hostage, might encourage the Iranian regime to take more hostages in the future, escalating the costs of their return.
International Criticism
The prisoner swap comes at a time when the United Kingdom, France, and Germany joined forces to criticize Iran for breaching its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The three countries expressed concern over Iran’s increased accumulation of enriched uranium, exceeding the limits set by the JCPoA.
Lopez shares this concern, stating her belief that Iran may be on the verge of deploying nuclear weapons or potentially already possessing a small number of nuclear warheads.
Conclusion
The recent prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran, involving the release of five American hostages, has sparked a heated debate. While the Biden administration celebrates the return of innocent Americans, critics warn of the potential consequences of unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian funds. The concerns raised by experts like Clare Lopez underscore the need for vigilance and transparency in ensuring that the funds are used exclusively for humanitarian purposes, and do not inadvertently contribute to Iran’s nuclear ambitions or support for extremist groups.
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