The Biden administration has extended a sanctions waiver that will give Iran access to about $10 billion from Iraq in exchange for electricity purchases.
The 120-day waiver, signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, is identical to the one issued in July, but comes amid increasing attacks on US forces by Iranian proxies and just over a month after that the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas massacred 1,200 people. in Israel on October 7.
Under the terms of the waiver, Iran will receive nearly $10 billion held in escrow accounts in Iraq that can only be used for humanitarian trade, U.S. officials told the Associated Press.
The extension of the waiver will also allow the Iranian regime to transfer electricity payments to accounts in Oman, which can then be converted to other currencies for the Islamic Republic to purchase non-sanctioned products, according to the outlet.
U.S. officials noted that Blinken signed the waiver primarily because the Biden administration does not want Iraq to be cut off from a critical energy source.
President Joe Biden delivers a speech on his administration’s actions to address the climate crisis in the South Court Auditorium of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 14, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller defended the extension of the waiver, arguing that the money “can only benefit the Iranian people.”
“They don’t get any additional dollars as a result of these exemptions. Again, none of these funds are sent to Iran. They are held in third-party accounts outside of Iran and can only be used for humanitarian and other non-sanctionable purposes for the benefit of the Iranian people,” Miller said during a press conference.
The State Department official also argued that Iran would continue “destabilizing activities” regardless of whether or not the waiver was issued.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Baghdad, Iraq, this month. OFFICE OF THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER/BROCHURE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“These are waivers that have been issued since 2018. We have seen Iran continue their destabilizing activities throughout that time, just as they did before the Trump administration issued the first of these waivers in 2018, which is why we have held them accountable.” . through attacks against their proxy militias in the region and through the sanctions that I just referred to, as well as a series of other measures,” Miller said.
“They choose to finance destabilizing activities first,” he added. “They have always done it; As far as we know, they always will. “So when we look at this money, we see the benefit of allowing these funds to be moved back into restricted accounts where they can only benefit the Iranian people.”
U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked by Iranian proxies at least 55 times since Oct. 17, leaving about 59 personnel injured, according to the Pentagon.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the waiver because the Biden administration does not want Iraq to be locked out of a critical energy source. AFP via Getty Images
In September, President Biden unfrozen $6 billion in funds to Iran in exchange for the release of five American detainees.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi quickly declared that Tehran would use the money “wherever we need it,” raising concerns that the regime would spend the funds for nefarious purposes.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn