{"id":2100126,"date":"2023-11-15T18:39:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T23:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-grants-extension-on-sanctions-waiver-allowing-billions-in-funding-for-iran\/"},"modified":"2023-11-15T18:42:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T23:42:43","slug":"u-s-grants-extension-on-sanctions-waiver-allowing-billions-in-funding-for-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-grants-extension-on-sanctions-waiver-allowing-billions-in-funding-for-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Grants Extension On Sanctions Waiver, Allowing Billions In Funding For Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fu-s-grants-extension-on-sanctions-waiver-allowing-billions-in-funding-for-iran%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2100126&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with transatlantic alliance NATO\u2019s\u200b chief\u200d on April 14, 2021 at NATO\u2019s headquarters in Brussels.\u2063 (Photo by\u200d Kenzo\u200c Tribouillard \/ POOL \/ AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD\/POOL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>OAN\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/tag\/stephanie-stahl\">Stephanie Stahl<\/a><br \/>3:26 PM \u2062\u2013 Wednesday, November 15, 2023<\/p>\n<p>The United States has granted a \u2064four-month extension to a sanctions waiver, allowing Iraq to keep buying electricity from Iran\u2062 and providing Iran with restricted access to the funds generated, allowing them to buy essential humanitarian goods.<\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center;\">  \t<script>  \t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3'); });  \t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Around $10 billion in payments from Iraq \u200bfor Iranian electricity is currently held in escrow accounts in Iraq.\u200c The\u2062 waiver ensures that Baghdad\u2062 can continue importing energy without facing U.S. penalties for violating \u2064sanctions on Iran.<\/p>\n<p>The extension was signed by Secretary of\u200b State Antony\u200b Blinken and transmitted to Congress on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>According to United States officials, Blinken approved the waiver\u2063 to\u200b prevent cutting off\u2062 Iraq from a vital energy source. The officials\u2063 expressed confidence\u2064 that\u2064 Iran \u2064would not misuse the funds for dubious purposes.\u200d They highlighted the\u200d implementation of a thorough\u2064 vetting \u2062process to ensure that the \u2063money is \u200bstrictly allocated for \u2062essential \u200dpurposes such\u2063 as food, medicine, medical equipment, and agricultural goods.<\/p>\n<p>The move was met by intense criticism from \u2064Republicans\u2062 lawmakers, who believe the extension could \u2064be perceived as rewarding \u200dIran, especially\u2062 given the mounting\u2064 pressure on\u200b the country to cease its support for proxy groups\u200b like Hamas, which contribute\u200d to destabilizing the \u200cMiddle East. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cIt\u2062 is absolutely outrageous the Biden Administration continues to \u2063find ways to send Iran money \u2062\u2014\u2062 especially from Iraq, where the same\u200b Iranian-backed militias who \u200dare targeting American forces increasingly run the show and are helping keep Iraq addicted \u2064to Iranian energy,\u201d Representative Mike \u2064Waltz,\u2062 (R-Fla.) said in response to the extension. \u2062 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) posted Wednesday to X, \u200dthe platform\u2062 formerly known as Twitter, \u200dwriting \u201cThe Biden \u2062Admin has cleared the way for $10 \u200bbillion to go to Iran.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/c3.oann.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Biden Admin has cleared the way for $10 billion to go to\u200b Iran. <\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind \u2064\u2013 Since January 21, Iran \u2063and its proxies \u2064have attacked American \u2064troops in \u200bthe Middle East at least 135 \u200btimes. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/l1c40UFKTY\">https:\/\/t.co\/l1c40UFKTY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenEricSchmitt\/status\/1724783891704156585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November \u206415, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" async data-cmplz-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The waiver resembles one previously endorsed by Blinken earlier \u2064this year, releasing approximately $6 billion from South Korea,\u200d intended for\u2062 Iranian oil imports. This was\u2062 done in exchange for the release of Americans held captive by Tehran. \u200cSimilar to the earlier waiver, the funds held by South Korea\u2064 were transferred to banks in Qatar and are strictly earmarked\u2063 for the acquisition of\u2062 humanitarian supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Critics \u200bwary of Iran\u2019s \u200bactivities\u200b emphasize\u200b that\u200d such waivers could potentially \u2062enable Iran to redirect domestic revenue, originally intended for humanitarian goods,\u200d towards supporting proxies like Hamas, Lebanon\u2019s\u2063 Hezbollah, and the Houthis in \u2063Yemen.<\/p>\n<p>Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for\u200b free. Subscribe here. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"rc-widget-10bad2\" data-rc-widget data-widget-host=\"habitat\" data-endpoint=\"\/\/trends.revcontent.com\" data-widget-id=\"278641\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"dpsp-share-text\" style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"> \t\t \t\tShare\u200d this post!\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>\u201cCircle Back\u201d Psaki pushes more \u201cTrump Derrangement Syndrome\u201d \u200cto the masses\u2026 but\u200c is anyone still buying it?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>A former Arizona corrections director pleads \u2062no contest to charges against him after engaging in a standoff with officers at his home.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">  \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>with Mike Puglise<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Starlink has \u2062secured a contract to offer free internet in Mexico \u2064until the end \u2064of 2026.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>U.S. lawmakers asked Apple Inc to explain the abrupt end of political comedian\u2064 Jon \u200dStewart\u2019s television show on its streaming service.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Elon Musk denied a report that his rocket company SpaceX \u2062was discussing \u200can IPO \u200cfor its\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/toyotas-camry-best-selling-car-in-us-goes-all-hybrid\/\" title=\"Toyota's Camry, top-selling car in the US, now fully hybrid.\">satellite internet business<\/a>, Starlink.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Chinese companies \u200bare buying up U.S.\u200c chipmaking equipment despite a raft of new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/march-for-israel-rally-in-d-c-elevated-to-sear-1-threat-level-by-dhs\/\" title=\"DHS Raises 'March For Israel' Rally in D.C. to SEAR 1 Threat Level\">export curbs aimed<\/a> at advances \u2062in the country\u2019s semiconductor industry.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> rnrn  <\/p>\n<h2> What measures have been taken\u2064 to ensure that the \u2063funds allocated for Iranian electricity purchases are strictly used for \u200dessential purposes<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Title: US Grants 4-Month Extension for Iraq to \u2064Buy Electricity from Iran<\/p>\n<p>Introduction<\/p>\n<p>In a recent development, the United\u2063 States has granted a four-month extension \u200cto Iraq, allowing the country to continue purchasing\u200b electricity from Iran. This extension enables Iraq to access funds generated from\u2063 these transactions, which\u200c will be used to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-grants-extension-on-sanctions-waiver-allowing-billions-in-funding-for-iran\/\" title=\"U.S. Grants Extension On Sanctions Waiver, Allowing Billions In Funding For Iran\">procure essential humanitarian goods<\/a>. While the\u200b decision aims to maintain Iraq&#8217;s energy supply, it has sparked criticism from Republican \u2063lawmakers who question the\u200b wisdom of rewarding Iran amid growing concerns over \u2064its proxy activities and destabilizing influence in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>Background<\/p>\n<p>Presently, around $10 billion in payments for Iranian electricity from Iraq \u200dis\u200d being \u200cheld in escrow \u200daccounts.\u200b The\u200c sanctions waiver\u200d ensures \u200bthat Baghdad can import \u200benergy without facing penalties for violating US sanctions on \u2064Iran.\u200b United States officials, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, granted the extension to prevent Iraq from being cut off from a vital energy source. These officials have expressed confidence\u200c that Iran will \u200cnot \u2064misuse the funds and\u200c have implemented a thorough vetting process \u2064to ensure the\u2062 money is strictly allocated for essential purposes such as\u200d food, medicine,\u2062 medical equipment, and agricultural goods.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Criticism<\/p>\n<p>The \u2062decision has faced \u200cintense criticism from Republican lawmakers who \u2063believe that extending the waiver may be perceived as rewarding Iran. They argue that,\u2062 given the mounting pressure on Iran to cease its support for proxy \u2062groups like Hamas, this move\u200c seems counterproductive to regional stability efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Representative Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) expressed his outrage, stating, &#8220;It is absolutely\u2063 outrageous \u200dthe Biden Administration\u2063 continues\u200c to find ways to send Iran\u2062 money \u2013 especially from Iraq, where the same Iranian-backed militias who are targeting American forces increasingly run the show and\u200b are helping keep Iraq addicted to Iranian energy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) took to social media to express his concern, tweeting, \u2062&#8221;The\u200b Biden Admin has cleared the way for $10 billion to go to Iran.&#8221; Schmitt&#8217;s tweet also highlighted\u2063 the attacks\u200b on American troops by Iran and\u200d its proxies in the Middle East since \u2063January 21, 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Comparison to Previous Waiver<\/p>\n<p>This waiver bears \u2064resemblance\u2062 to a previous decision made \u200dby Secretary Blinken \u200bearlier this year. In that case, approximately $6 billion from South Korea, intended for Iranian oil imports, was released in exchange \u200bfor the release of Americans held captive by \u2062Tehran. \u200cSimilarly, the funds in question were transferred to\u200d banks in Qatar and\u200c strictly earmarked for the purchase of humanitarian \u2064supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Conclusion<\/p>\n<p>The United States&#8217; decision to grant a four-month extension to Iraq for the purchase of electricity from Iran has sparked controversy and criticism from Republican lawmakers. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/military-leaders-remain-confident-in-osprey-aircraft-following-deadly-crash\/\" title=\"Military leaders maintain confidence in Osprey aircraft despite fatal crash.\">officials remain confident<\/a> that the funds\u2064 will be used for essential purposes, concerns over \u200dIran&#8217;s\u200c proxy activities and regional\u2063 instability persist. The Biden administration stands by its \u200ddecision, emphasizing\u2064 the importance of maintaining Iraq&#8217;s\u2062 energy supply and assuring strict oversight to ensure the allocated funds are utilized appropriately. The situation will undoubtedly continue to be closely monitored by stakeholders invested in regional stability and US-Iran relations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with transatlantic alliance NATO\u2019s chief on April 14, 2021 at NATO\u2019s headquarters in Brussels. (Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard \/ POOL \/ AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD\/POOL\/AFP via Getty Images) OAN\u2019s\u00a0Stephanie Stahl 3:26 PM \u2013 Wednesday, November 15, 2023 The United States has granted a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2416,"featured_media":2100127,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2100126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2416"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2100126"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100126\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2100127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2100126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2100126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2100126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}