Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Scott (R-SC), and 23 Republican colleagues are calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to provide oversight on the Biden administration's lack of a cohesive Iran strategy. The senators are concerned about the recent decision to extend an Iran sanctions waiver, which grants Iran access to approximately $10 billion.

The senators wrote a letter expressing their concerns, stating, "A strong signal of deterrence—utilizing military, economic, and diplomatic tools—is needed if we want to stop the attacks against U.S. personnel and prevent the war in Gaza from expanding into a protracted regional conflict. Unfortunately, the administration’s military and economic responses to Iran and its proxies have not only been disproportionate, they appear to be completely disjointed."

The senators are requesting a classified assessment from the departments of State, Treasury, and Defense on the administration's plan to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. They also want an estimation of how Iran has leveraged and could leverage the billions in assets it now has access to due to the administration's use of U.S. sanctions waivers.

This is not the first time the senators have raised concerns about the administration's approach to Iran. Back in August 2023, Cassidy, Scott, and 24 Republican colleagues demanded answers after the administration released $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for the return of American detainees. The senators expressed concern about the dangerous precedent of providing ransom payments to a state sponsor of terrorism.

The situation has only worsened since then. Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 civilians and the taking of over 200 hostages. In response, the administration reached an agreement with Qatar to temporarily prevent the unfrozen assets, now held at Qatari financial institutions, from being expended. However, the senators believe that without proper safeguards, Iran will soon access the $6 billion and use the funds to expand its malign proxy activities.

The senators highlight that while Israel is fighting to defend its sovereignty and protect its people, other Iranian proxies have increased their attacks against U.S. personnel in the region. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have launched 61 attacks against U.S. personnel since October 7, while U.S. forces have only responded three times. At the same time, the administration has taken steps to unlock tens of billions of dollars for Iran to fund additional terrorist activities that directly threaten American lives.

The senators also point out the timing of the administration's decision to extend the sanctions waiver. It was signed the day after the U.S. Central Command conducted a strike against facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian proxy groups in Eastern Syria. The senators argue that this timing sends a signal to Iran that despite attacks on U.S. servicemembers and allies, it is business as usual on the economic front.

In conclusion, the senators are demanding answers and a clear plan from the Biden administration. They want a classified assessment on how the administration plans to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The senators emphasize the need for a strong signal of deterrence and a cohesive strategy that utilizes military, economic, and diplomatic tools.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-scott-colleagues-demand-answers-from-biden-administration-on-latest-iran-sanctions-waiver/