The Biden administration has renewed a contentious sanctions waiver, unlocking upwards of $10 billion in frozen funds for the Iranian government. This decision, submitted to Congress late Wednesday, reignites a fierce debate on Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers argue the waiver undermines U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s support for terrorism and nuclear ambitions.
The sanctions waiver allows Iraq to transfer electricity payments to Iran through third-party countries. Initially approved in November, the waiver was set to expire this month, forcing the White House to address mounting GOP concerns about sanctions being bypassed. Under the waiver, Iraq is permitted to convert its currency, the dinar, into Euros and transfer these funds into Iranian accounts in Oman.
Republican foreign policy leaders, including Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), have expressed alarm over the decision. They contend the funds could be redirected to support Iran’s terrorist proxies, including Hamas, which has launched attacks on Israel and U.S. forces in the region. “By waiving the application of sanctions, the administration is maintaining a financial lifeline for the Iranian regime,” Huizenga and three other GOP lawmakers stated in a letter to the Biden administration earlier this week.
Critics argue that money is fungible, making it difficult to ensure that funds earmarked for humanitarian purposes aren’t ultimately used for malign activities. Iran, they warn, has a history of circumventing restrictions. “There is no reason to think they will not try to skirt these restrictions again,” the lawmakers’ letter added.
The State Department maintains that the waiver is crucial for Iraq’s energy needs. Since 2018, Iraq has depended on Iranian energy imports while transitioning toward self-sufficiency. A State Department spokesperson argued that the waiver ensures Iraq’s access to electricity and allows the country to pay down its debts to Tehran without violating U.S. sanctions.
“Under these waivers, no money has been permitted to enter Iran,” the official explained. “These funds, which are held abroad in third countries, can only be used for transactions involving food, agricultural commodities, medicine, and other non-sanctionable items. The money goes straight to the trusted vendor or financial institution in another country. The money never touches Iran.”
However, critics remain unconvinced. Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former member of the White House National Security Council, highlighted significant differences between the Biden administration’s approach and that of its predecessor. According to Goldberg, the current waiver grants Iran greater flexibility in accessing funds.
“This is not the same waiver for Iraqi electricity imports that has been issued since 2018,” Goldberg argued. “This is an Iran sanctions relief waiver that allows Tehran to access money and use it for budget support, including debt payments and import subsidies.”
Goldberg pointed to recent events to illustrate the risks associated with the waiver. “The fact that the administration will not even tell the American people how much money Iran has accessed over the last four months—money that subsidized three American soldier deaths and nonstop attacks on the American Navy—should prompt the U.S. Senate to immediately pass the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act and send it to the president’s desk.”
While the State Department insists that the waiver is a temporary necessity, the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy remain under scrutiny. Critics argue that enabling Iran to access billions in frozen funds—even with strict oversight—risks emboldening a regime that has repeatedly undermined regional stability. Iran’s support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, along with its nuclear ambitions, has made it a focal point of U.S. sanctions policy.
The Biden administration has emphasized that the funds are tightly controlled and can only be used for humanitarian purposes. Yet skeptics note that Iran’s ability to redirect resources, coupled with its history of deceit, undermines these assurances. They contend that even indirect access to billions of dollars strengthens Iran’s capacity to fund its global terrorism network and continue its nuclear program.
The sanctions waiver has become a lightning rod for partisan debate, with Republicans accusing the administration of prioritizing diplomatic engagement with Iran over national security concerns. Democrats, meanwhile, argue that the waiver is a pragmatic solution to Iraq’s energy needs and a step toward fostering regional stability.
As the renewed waiver takes effect, it faces potential legislative challenges. The proposed No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act seeks to curtail Iran’s access to frozen assets, potentially forcing the administration to rethink its strategy. Whether this measure gains traction in Congress remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the Biden administration’s decision underscores the complexities of balancing energy security, humanitarian concerns, and the imperative to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities. With tensions high in the Middle East, the renewed sanctions waiver adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile geopolitical landscape.
What! A giant money laundering scheme again which is something the TRAITOR Biden has gotten away with for decades! Does anyone with a normally functioning mind and even just a clue think for one minute that those terrorist supporters and devils won’t divvy up that enormous amount of cash to do more of their evil clandestine activities and add to personal wealth! He has no authority and is a wet mop already not having quit the presidency but “Voted OUT along with the Demoncrap party overwhelmingly by the People, “Out of Office” and out of mind! So get the HELL OUT you Traitor and if this happens he should be brought up on charges and sent to GITMO for Execution! Iran is a foremost enemy of America and all Christendom!
This demonic bastard not only caused We the Taxpayers and our Nation to fall into an additional 13 $Trillion plus and still growing at supersonic speed National Debt in just the past 4 years, most of which was totally avoidable and not proper just like this isn’t; he still wants to “sock the screws” to all of us and “run the country into the ground and HELL if possible!”
You True Republicans had better get your hineys’ in gear now and especially in January to STOP all actions taken by this incompetent evil TRAITOR who should already be behind bars!
Roger that. More scary is America is now paying $1,000,000,000 (ONE TRILLION dollars) every ONE HUNDRED days just in interest on the debt! Does anyone believe that is sustainable?
I thought the Congress was in charge of America’s “purse strings?” How, in God’s holy name, is Joltin’ demented, corrupt, Joe Biden authorizing ANY kind of money to Iran? As John Stossel would say, “GIVE ME A BREAK.”
Firewagon, excellent dose of truth! And the damned to hell Demoncraps with the Rino’s have been pushing all that “sustainability jargon” saying how practically anything of real American value is unsustainable that they chop up and anything good that they touch they destroy; while they pushed through that almost 2 $Trillion Green New Deal at the start of this “treasonous renegade administration” and flooded our nation with tens of millions of unvetted “Illegal Alien Invaders” throwing money and benefits at them like they are the best thing to happen to America! Now it will cost $Billions to get them out which we must and they’ve now pushed out Nation Debt to soon be 40 $Trillion yet they said their programs or actions in Congress were a must happen to reach “sustainability,” when they actually pushed in the Opposite direction! Which means this United States of America is in a “falling like a stone into the pits of hell unsustainable debt crisis” that will destroy this country if it isn’t reversed in some way! Bullshit is all they pushed and still are because “they didn’t and do not give a damn shit about this nation or us,” as they’ve been “grabbing all the millions and billions of dollars for themselves” along the way!
Xiden and the rest of his ilk “hasn’t done anything” in God’s holy name; but rather only in honor of “their real master Satan” whom they serve night and day!
“….unlocking upwards of $10 billion in frozen funds for the Iranian government. ” YHGTBFKM! There are no words other than those to define this ignorant, imbecilic, inept, incompetent, INSANE, intention! These ignoramuses are simply ‘brain-dead.’ When did all those Iranian proxy terrorist organizations restart their missile attacks on Israel, almost as soon as Joltin’ demented, corrupt, Joe Biden assumed the throne of America, and allowed Iran to enrich themselves! As is said far too often in America today, “You Just Can’t Make This Schiff Up.” These ‘crazies’ are guilty of at least ‘War Crimes,’ if not TREASON, and should be prosecuted!
We all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely and absolute GREED will absolutely destroy America, which is an evolving FACT right before our eyes! Accountability is necessary NOW! Seize all the assets down to the penny of every guilty agent of this destruction and put all of it toward paying down the National Debt! That is the only way I see of flipping this death spiral paradigm that we are all in!
Ya’ll can bet your bottom dollar that the Anti-American Communist Muslim Obama is behind this.
Iran is the biggest terrorist Country and Muslim Obama has praised Iran during his Illegitimate Presidency and even invited the Muslim Brotherhood to the White House.
And none of his suspicious activities with Muslim terrorists raised any flags in Washington DC.?
Sending those barbarians chanting Death To America $ Billions of taxpayers Money and even in the dead of night caused suspicion.?
Muslim Obama had a hand in getting Iran to build nuclear weapons against Isreal and America.!
I say Sanction the shit out of them.!
And if that ain’t enough, then obliterate them off the face of the Earth.!
Please stop this madness!! Congress wake up!
janet jensen; Some in Congress have to pay the price and pay dearly for what criminality they allowed and have fostered it; is outright treasonous! That is how to begin to turn things around!
Other than that it will continue to be the Ruling Elite Criminal Class stomping on all we plebs, until there is nothing worth saving! It’s literally being drunk with power and serving any or all evil forces which many of them are doing right now
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! IF ANYONE IN WASHINTON ALLOWS THIS TO HAPPEN, EVERY PERSON INVOVLED IN IT’S BEING PASSED THROUGH, SHOULD BE CONDEMNED AND HELD FOR TREASON AND GO BEFORE A PUBLIC FIRING SQUAD, JUST AS THE LAW WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AND USED TO BE FOLLOWED. I AM APPALLED AT WHAT THIS COUNTRY HAS BECOME. JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL! THIS DERANGED MAN, AND HIS PUPPET MASTER, WHO IS RUNNING THE SHOW, IS BASICALLY TELLING IRAN, “HERE TAKE THIS MONEY AND KILL EVERY AMERICAN.” I DEMAND THIS BE STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS. ANYONE WITH ANY COMMON SENSE NEEDS TO VOICE THIS TO WASHINGTON IMMEDIATELY. IF EVER WE AS THE PEOPLE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER, IT IS NOW, CALL REPRESENTATIVES AND DEMAND IT TO BE STOPPED. CALL, EMAIL, POST ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA OUR DISTAIN FOR WHAT IS GOING ON. BIDEN HAS SIGNED HIS LEGACY IN HIS OWN SHAME, ALONG WITH ALL THE PUPPET MASTERS. THEY HAVE CROSSED THE LINE OF BREAKING THEIR OATH OF ALLEGIENCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT ALL MAKES ME SICK.
Well said Sue.!
I want public hangings and Fireing Squads returned too tell any upcoming Communist Democrats seeking election what they will face should they try to allow Americans die at the hands of any Communist Country.
Communist Democrats and Rinos have gotten away with Treason and Sedition for way too long now and it’s high time they start paying the price.!
Sorry Linda I was lost in thought and I apologize.
Linda, you are correct and it way past water over the dam; the damned dam is collapsing and this evil demonic creature that has been a puppet for the last four years have brought our Nation, We the People and the World to the Precipice of Annihilation and the END!
I wrote several years ago how Biden was a new form of the Manchurian Candidate concept and then I added that he is serving and working directly with demons from hell to total destroy us making him a man of perdition on steroids! But all this lame fools have sat and road along with this bastard from hell to just let it rip!
He and many others should have absolutely faced a firing squad at GITMO years ago for Sedition and Treason and NOT upholding the oath of office to protect and uphold the US Constitution and the American Citizens; they have done just the opposite with Zero Consequences; and actually made back door deals to become filthy rich beyond measure in many cases! That is a formula for total disaster!
I assure anyone that Biden signs his legacy to Satan and nothing of any holy or good value in this entire world!
Absolutely Brother Michael, I just noted on another article the same points of contention that are destroying our Nation! Obama is a snake serving Satan directly; I have no doubt about it! The evidence has been piling up before our eyes and there is much more not seen!
Absolute power corrupts absolutely and these ilks are corrupted to the CORE my fellow American! They have been possessed with money and power for so long that they are even beyond worshiping it and are rather “owned by it” which means they are “owned by Satan!” That is the bottom-line they are not acting like rational, deceit or God fearing people but are just the opposite and very EVIL!
How can we expect them and what they represent to make any sense at all! Mitch McConnell is also who I was referencing. His CCP ties and major business deals with his Chinese brother in-law where in South America a ship of theirs had massive amounts of cocaine!
They are about destruction and Biden handing Iran $Billions that named the United States Satan America proves my point of how they work hand in hand with all of America’s enemies especially the Devil!
Remember how Obama and Kerry flew directly to Iran on Military transports loaded with huge containers full of American Dollars, sure there were kickbacks but Iran got to fund many of their terrorist operations since then with that loot! After Trump had them destitute when he was first in office as the President!
Biden only accomplished being one of if not the top treasonous organized crime syndicate professional politicians in all of America’s history with over 50 years of ripping off and subverting anything and everything he could get his greedy hands on while being absolutely demonically influenced; making him “America’s Man of Perdition” who held hands with the “Political Beast the Kenyan Bathhouse Boy Barry Sortero, Barack Hussein Obama” the first illegitimate Muslim fraud US President! Islam is the antithesis of Christianity and seeks to destroy all non-Muslims
. “In 632, only months before he died, Muhammad apparently met for the first time with a Christian community as such. An official delegation of Christians, probably led by a bishop, came to Mecca from Najran in Yemen. After engaging the Christians in discussion, the Prophet is said to have realized that Christian teachings are indeed incompatible with Islam, after which the revelation followed that only Islam is acceptable to God as a religion. The Quran also says very specifically that those who refer to Jesus as God are blasphemers, and that Christians saying that Christ is the son of God is an imitation of Jews, who earlier had said that Ezra is the son of God. According to the Quran Jesus was only a servant; Jesus the son of Mary was no more than an apostle of God. Quranic verses dealing with Jesus’ death have been interpreted differently by commentators, but generally they have been taken to mean that Jesus did not die by crucifixion. For Christians the Quran has thus served as a denial of Jesus’ incarnation and death on the cross and of the reality of the Trinity.” (Oxford University Press) These two points alone put Islam and the Muslims completely at odds with Jesus Christ and all Christians and are the enemies of such!
Alexander Hamilton
First US Secretary of the Treasury
“In my opinion, the present constitution is the standard to which we are to cling…. Let an association be formed to be denominated ‘The Christian Constitutional Society,’ its object to be first: The support of the Christian religion. Second: The support of the United States.”
Apr. 16-21, 1802, Letter to James Bayard
John Jay
First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
Feb. 28, 1797, Letter to clergyman Jedidiah Morse
I can honestly say by my faith in God and in what He manifested and blessed this Nation with; through and by Our Forefathers, shall overcome all the evil that is throughout this country working it’s malicious and destructive activity in all walks of life; that evil will be revealed and chastised by God Almighty working miracles through His elect!
Obama was the sign of the evil that was enveloping America and now maybe more people get it but I saw it quite a while ago back when he ran against that RINO sludge Romney! Too many evil souls running loose in DC for too long and miracles with direct divine intervention are needed to flip the paradigm to Good and Holy efforts prevailing in that hellish swamp!
God bless Ya’ll!
Brother Lawrence, all that you stated is perfectly quoted word for word.
My destiny is here on Earth but my heart and soul belongs to God Almighty and nothing will change that.
God Bless you Brother.
That’s all words of wisdom and truth Brother!
My own father told me “no matter what this world does to this body, my soul belongs to God!”
Amen.
Wow! Nothing like the US aiding the terrorists!!!
Frick, that’s the horrid truth and Obama and Kerry did that so much, along with many others of the same ilk! Biden is the current front-runner with his puppeteers!
WTF! Biden wants to give $10 billion to Iraq so that they can pay down their debt to Iran???? That’s a convenient way of admitting that the money will ultimately end up in Iran’s hands –ONCE AGAIN! Will this stupidity never end? Will dems never learn? They have a way of trying to make an effort to help Iraq–which we should stop doing anyway since they may now revert to their former terrorist ties–so that Iraq can funnel the money to Iran? Let’s go ahead and raise our deficit and help out Iran once again. Shameful.
Exactly Scott, it goes to show where the Communist Demoncrats allegiance stands and it’s not in America’s interest.
Anyone who votes Communist Democrat should be beaten and sent to Iran if they hate America that much.!
Absolutely get them the hell out of here NOW!
A Good ass whoop-in first is in order!
Israel must take out its true enemies arming and funding Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, …Iran and the Biden administration!
I’ll 2nd that CharlieSeattle.
Absolutely TRUE!