US considers refreezing Iranian funds

The Biden administration is not ruling out freezing the $6 billion in Iranian oil revenues that it released last month as part of a deal to free five American hostages.

The deal faced objections in Washington from day one, but it never seemed in danger until Hamas attacked Israel and killed more than 1,200 people.

In the few days since the attack, Republican lawmakers have been intensifying their efforts to make the administration punish Iran for its support of Hamas.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen confirmed that all options are being explored in dealing with the regime in Iran, including to block the $6 billion that was allowed to be accessed as part of the prisoner deal.

“These are funds that are sitting in Qatar that were made available purely for humanitarian purposes and the funds have not been touched,” Yellen said. “I wouldn’t take anything off the table in terms of future possible actions.”

Before Yellen, John Kirby, spokesperson US National Security Council had suggested that the funds “can be re-frozen” at any time. In an interview with MSNBC, Kirby said: “None of it has been allocated. None of it has been spent.”