More Than a Dozen Bipartisan Senators Call for ‘Official Policy’ Freeze of $6B in Iranian Funds

A group of 14 bipartisan senators led by Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, are calling on the Biden administration to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian funds that were unfrozen on September in a prisoner exchange deal.

They are requesting that the administration establish an "official policy" in the U.S. making is more difficult to the status of the funds to be updated later.

“While we understand that there are reports of an agreement with Qatar to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets, we urge you to make this decision official U.S. policy and continue your efforts to limit Iran’s ability to provide support to Hamas,” the senator wrote in a letter addressed to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

The senators' request for more barriers comes after the Treasury Department told Democrats on Thursday that they would block the funds, which are currently being held in Qatar.

A number of lawmakers have speculated that the funds were used to help fund the Hamas attack on Israel when they were originally intended to be used for humanitarian needs.

The senator wrote that while U.S. intelligence continues to investigate if Iran played a role in the attacks, Iran's "clear" support for Hamas ensures that the militant group "had the means to carry out their abhorrent attack on Israel."

“We therefore strongly urge you to make it official U.S. policy to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar, and continue to hold Iran accountable for its violent and destabilizing actions, including direct support of Hamas,” they wrote. 

Senators who signed the letter include Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Jon Tester D-Mont., Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., Marsha Blackburn R-Tenn., James Lankford R-Okla., Dan Sullivan R-Alaska, Todd Young R-Ind., Sherrod Brown D-Ohio, Tammy Baldwin D-Wis., Mark Kelly D-Ariz., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.