In a fiery exchange, Associated Press (AP) diplomatic reporter Matt Lee and State Department spokesman Matthew Miller clashed over the utilization of unfrozen Iranian funds to support the terrorist group Hamas.
Hamas had recently conducted a devastating attack, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 lives in Israel over a weekend.
According to the reports, the Biden administration had orchestrated a deal to transfer $6 billion in previously frozen Iranian assets in exchange for the release of several Iranian nationals and five Americans who were held hostage in Iran.
A report by The Wall Street Journal, citing senior members of Hamas and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, alleged that Iran had actively supported Hamas in planning the attack on Israel weeks in advance and had given the green light for the terrorist organization’s assault the previous week.
Reports also claimed that Matt Lee pressed the State Department, contending that while they argued that specific funds with identifiable serial numbers couldn’t be used for terrorism, allowing these funds to be released permitted Iran to redirect resources within its borders, potentially aiding malign activities.
In addition, Matthew Miller countered by pointing out that the accumulation of Iranian funds began during the Trump administration, and the U.S. had consistently taken actions to hold Iran accountable for its support of terrorism.
Lee interjected, emphasizing that the concern revolved around freeing funds inside Iran that could be redirected for harmful purposes. Miller responded by stating that there was no evidence to support this claim.
Lee further challenged Miller, asking for evidence that Iran hadn’t used the money, since its arrival in Qatar, to support Hamas. Miller acknowledged Iran’s history of funding terrorism both before and after these accounts were established, expressing the intention to hold Iran accountable.
Moreover, he reiterated that the allocated funds were strictly designated for humanitarian purposes, with rigorous oversight and visibility. Any misuse, he assured, would lead to immediate actions to prevent it.
Furthermore, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, speaking on Fox News, clarified that the $6 billion was being reallocated in small increments and couldn’t be used to fund Hamas.
