WATERLOO, Iowa: Former President Donald Trump and several Republican contenders have pointed fingers at the Biden administration following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, characterized as the deadliest in decades. Their criticism centers on a $6 billion transfer to Iran, despite assurances from administration officials that the funds remain unspent.
The Hamas assault, taking place during a major Jewish holiday, has introduced an additional layer of foreign policy discourse into an election season already heavily focused on global affairs. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine has fractured the Republican field, with some, such as Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, questioning the continued U.S. involvement, while others, like former Vice President Mike Pence, assert the importance of supporting the Ukrainian military for national security.
On this particular Saturday, the Republican candidates presented a united front, standing in solidarity with Israel.
Trump, speaking in Waterloo, Iowa, condemned the Hamas attack as an act of savagery, explicitly linking it to the $6 billion transfer. He asserted that American taxpayer dollars had indirectly funded these attacks, arguing that the perception of U.S. weakness and ineffectiveness under the Biden administration had emboldened aggression.
Trump further stated that such events wouldn’t have occurred during his presidency, claiming that Biden had “betrayed Israel” through the controversial deal.
In response, President Biden decried the “unconscionable” assault and promised to provide Israel with the necessary support for its defense.
Much of the Republican criticism revolves around a complex deal announced by the Biden administration in September. This deal aimed to secure the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran and entailed the transfer of roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets from South Korea to an account in Doha, Qatar. Despite Hamas being a Sunni Muslim group, its militant wing has long maintained close ties with Iran, united by their shared hostility toward Israel.
#DonaldTrump, other Republican presidential aspirants claim #JoeBiden's deal with #Iran helped finance #Hamas attack on #Israel https://t.co/stgtm5V2Ym
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 8, 2023
Administration officials clarified that the $6 billion isn’t derived from U.S. taxpayer money but rather comprises payments made by South Korea to Iran for oil purchases in recent years. These funds had been held in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions. The money is presently secured in a restricted account in Doha, earmarked exclusively for humanitarian purposes, such as providing food and medicine to Iranians. It is intended to be managed by vetted non-Iranian vendors.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has declared his country’s intention to allocate the funds as needed, while the U.S. has emphasized rigorous oversight over disbursement and the potential to freeze the assets if necessary.
Ron DeSantis, in a video statement, accused Biden of pursuing policies that have benefitted Iran, ultimately costing Israel. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott alleged that the attack represented the “Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work,” asserting that the U.S. had inadvertently invited this aggression through its actions.
Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, countered these claims, emphasizing that none of the funds had been spent and reiterating that they could only be used for humanitarian purposes.
Brian Nelson, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at Treasury, emphasized that these restricted funds were not intended for Iran and that suggestions to the contrary were false.
Pence also laid blame on Biden, characterizing the current administration as projecting weakness on the world stage and appeasing the mullahs in Iran. He called for strong leadership within the Republican Party that understands the importance of achieving peace through strength.
