Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Sunday criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for denying any link between the Biden administration’s prisoner swap deal that unfreezed $6 billion in Iranian assets and the Hamas attack on Israel.
“In fact, I think it was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that $6 billion doesn’t matter here,” Haley said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
“I mean, let’s be honest with the American people and understand that Hamas knows and Iran knows that they are moving money as we speak because they know that $6 billion is going to be released.”
The $6 billion derived from Iranian oil revenues have been blocked in South Korean accounts due to international sanctions.
Blinken told CNN earlier on Sunday that “not a single dollar has been spent from that account,” which he emphasized was being closely monitored by the US Treasury Department.
Nikki Haley has urged Israel to “end” Hamas in retaliation for the massive attack on the Jewish state.AP
U.S. officials agreed to allow Iran access to money for humanitarian purposes only during the prisoner exchange deal finalized last month.
But Republican critics like Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have argued that the money is fungible.
“This terrorism is funded by Biden’s stupid release of $6 billion to the Iranians. Hamas’ war against Israel is now the second war launched under Biden’s failed presidency,” Christie posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“This most recent $6 billion…they say this money can’t be used for that. And that may be true, but money is fungible…they have really empowered some really bad people,” DeSantis told Newsmax.
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Haley echoed many of those sentiments.
“Look at what the Iranian people, the Iranian regime, have done to threaten Israel over the years,” he continued. “They are moving money to threaten those they hate. They hate Israel. They hate America.”
Most Republican 2024 hopefuls have condemned Hamas’ bloody attack on Israel. fake images
On Sunday, Blinken told CNN that “we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed” the recent Hamas attack, which took Israeli defense and intelligence forces by surprise.
He was not the only Biden administration official to counter GOP criticism of the $6 billion.
“This is a shameful lie in every sense, at a time when both sides should be totally united in supporting Israel’s defense. Not a cent has been spent. They will not go to the Iranian government,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates wrote on Saturday.
This is a shameful lie in every sense, at a time when both sides should be totally united in supporting Israel’s defense.
-Not a cent has been spent -Will not go to the Iranian government -Can only be used for verifiable purchases of humanitarian needs such as food and medicine https://t.co/Cp46b69BqC
—Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) October 7, 2023
Behind the scenes, the Biden administration has reportedly been interested in reviving the so-called Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Haley, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018 under the Trump administration, has demonstrated her foreign policy skills during the campaign.
She has long presented herself as a staunch friend of Israel and a fierce opponent of Iran.
“I’ve been terribly concerned by the fact that Iran has said the easiest way to get into the United States is through the southern border,” Haley said. “We have an open border. The people are arriving. They are not being examined. “We don’t need to wait for another 9/11.”
Shortly after news of the Hamas rampage spread, Haley declared that the attack was not simply directed against Israel, but “was an attack against the United States” as well.
“Finish them,” he added.
A ball of fire and smoke rises after an explosion in a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.AP Smoke rises from a ship after the Israeli attacks, in the port of Gaza.REUTERS
Blinken emphasized that the Biden administration stands with Israel as it launches a counteroffensive to quell the Hamas terrorist threat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised “powerful revenge” and that Israel will emerge “victorious.”
Israel’s cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, marking the nation’s first formally declared war since 1973.
According to Israeli officials, more than 600 Israeli citizens have been killed in the fighting and 2,000 have been wounded.
Additionally, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 313 Palestinians are reported dead and 1,990 missing, including 20 children dead and 121 injured.
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