President Biden’s deal to free $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil money in return for the release of five Amrican citizens held by Iran drew a strong rebuke from Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hern.
“The Biden Administration’s hostage ransom deal with Iran endangers Americans and is yet another foreign policy failure from this White House,” said Hern, chairman of the House Republican study committee.
““President Biden is either stupid or naïve to believe that Iran will only use the $6 billion we gave them for humanitarian assistance. Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” added the Tulsa congressman in a statement.
He said the waivers were issued on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks and adds insult to injury. Hern vowed to use legislative options to “reverse this agreement and prevent further ransom payments and sanctions relief to Iran.
As part of the Biden administration agreement, five Iranian citizens detained in the U.S. will be released. Congress was notified Monday of the release, the 22nd annniversary of the 9-11 attacks.
The $6 billion in Iranian oil money has been held in South Korea as a result of a waiver issued by the Trump administration in 2018. The waiver allowed Seoul to continue purchasing Iran’s oil but the funds were stuck a year later when the Trump administration tightened sanctions against Iran.