ARE WE FUNDING IRAN’S TERRORISTS?
Iran is indeed a dangerous terrorist state that not only has a powerful standing army, air force, navy and advanced weapons systems including ballistic missiles but also controls multiple proxy terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah that are responsible for killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children and thousands of American military personnel. Their intent is to destroy Israel and the United States.
Former President Obama knew these things when he deliberately chose a policy of appeasement and cash payoffs instead of strength and accountability as the way to deal with Iran. He authorized $1.7 billion be sent to Iran of which $400 million was in foreign currency delivered on pallets on January 17, 2016 the same day Tehran released four American prisoners. Hmm.
Former President Obama knew these things when he deliberately chose a policy of appeasement and cash payoffs instead of strength and accountability as the way to deal with Iran. He authorized $1.7 billion be sent to Iran of which $400 million was in foreign currency delivered on pallets on January 17, 2016 the same day Tehran released four American prisoners. Hmm.
It seems that in the 1960s and 1970s, Iran was the largest partner of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program. A Trust Fund was established with Iranian funds to pay U.S. contractors as work progressed on the various contracts. (We were building and selling military equipment for Iran!) In February 1979, days before the Iranian Islamic revolution, the United States and Iran agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that halted these payments and voided many of the remaining purchases. The MoU also called for Iran’s unexpended FMS funds to be placed in an interest-bearing account. All of this was last minute preparation for Islamic Republic’s takeover.
Later that year, after the new Islamic Republic’s seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the detention of the American diplomats, the Carter administration froze all Iranian assets in the United States. The standoff was resolved nearly 15 months later, with an agreement that freed the hostages and established the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal to resolve the labyrinth of financial and commercial disputes. What follows is the tangled web of financial transactions between the U.S. and Iran. Ransom?
Later that year, after the new Islamic Republic’s seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the detention of the American diplomats, the Carter administration froze all Iranian assets in the United States. The standoff was resolved nearly 15 months later, with an agreement that freed the hostages and established the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal to resolve the labyrinth of financial and commercial disputes. What follows is the tangled web of financial transactions between the U.S. and Iran. Ransom?
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All of this took place while Iran still had not paid $55.6 billion the U.S. courts judged should be paid to American victims of Iranian terrorism. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also introduced a bill that prohibited cash payments to Iran and demanded transparency on future settlements. “Sending the world’s leading state sponsor of terror pallets of untraceable cash isn’t just terrible policy,” Royce said. “It’s incredibly reckless, and it only puts bigger targets on the backs of Americans. ... This cash bonanza has emboldened Iran’s radical regime, and undermined America’s national security.”
The Biden administration reached a dangerous deal with Iran in August this year to release five American hostages in exchange for five Iranians held in U.S. jails and at least $6 billion of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea. In addition to this, limitations on Iran’s nuclear program were lifted including: restrictions on production of ballistic missiles, import and export of missile technology, and development of delivery of nuclear weapons.
The Biden administration reached a dangerous deal with Iran in August this year to release five American hostages in exchange for five Iranians held in U.S. jails and at least $6 billion of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea. In addition to this, limitations on Iran’s nuclear program were lifted including: restrictions on production of ballistic missiles, import and export of missile technology, and development of delivery of nuclear weapons.
The freed up $6 billion ransom is supposed to be for humanitarian purposes, but there is no way to be sure that it won’t be used to fund terrorism. Iranian President Raisi bragged to the world that Iran would spend the $6 billion “wherever we need it.”
This pattern of appeasement and cash for hostages has not accomplished a friendly relationship with Iran but because of our gullibility, it has empowered Iran to believe we are weak and unwilling to stand up against their radical Muslim terrorism. We have gained little in this relationship but have lost a great deal, including our integrity and position as leader of the free world. Are we reaping the consequences of our own wrong doing?
President Trump stood up against the Iranians. He took us out of the Iran Nuclear Deal because it failed to curtail Iran’s missile program and regional influence. Many think it was a poor decision, but it is obvious that the deal was doomed anyway, because Iran has different priorities. Iran wants to destroy Israel and the U.S. and will not stop. We have to see that there is no way we can change their vision or national purpose. Their government today is an enemy to the U.S., Israel, and Christian believers.
KLN
This pattern of appeasement and cash for hostages has not accomplished a friendly relationship with Iran but because of our gullibility, it has empowered Iran to believe we are weak and unwilling to stand up against their radical Muslim terrorism. We have gained little in this relationship but have lost a great deal, including our integrity and position as leader of the free world. Are we reaping the consequences of our own wrong doing?
President Trump stood up against the Iranians. He took us out of the Iran Nuclear Deal because it failed to curtail Iran’s missile program and regional influence. Many think it was a poor decision, but it is obvious that the deal was doomed anyway, because Iran has different priorities. Iran wants to destroy Israel and the U.S. and will not stop. We have to see that there is no way we can change their vision or national purpose. Their government today is an enemy to the U.S., Israel, and Christian believers.
KLN