Tester Leads Bipartisan Letter Pressing Biden Administration to Officially Freeze Iranian Assets

Senators urge Administration to make it official U.S. policy to freeze $6 billion in assets

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on the Biden Administration to make it the official policy of the United States to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in the wake of Hamas’s deadly terrorist attacks on Israel.

“Given Iran’s history of supporting acts of terrorism through Hamas, the United States must do everything in its power in the wake of this brutal attack to ensure that Iran is not in a position to continue funding Hamas’ terrorist activities in Israel and throughout the Middle East,” wrote Tester and the bipartisan group of Senators. “As you know, the State Department’s 2021 Country Report on Terrorism found that Hamas received weapons systems and other direct support from Iran, allowing the group to carry out deadly attacks against Israel. In 2022, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, stated publicly that the terrorist organization had received $70 million in assistance from Iran that year, and that it used the money to build rockets.”

“While the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess Iran’s role in the October 7 terrorist attacks, it is clear that Iran’s support for Hamas has sustained the terrorist group, ensuring that Hamas had the means to carry out their abhorrent attack on Israel,” they continued. “We therefore strongly urge you to make it official U.S. policy to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar, and continue to hold Iran accountable for its violent and destabilizing actions, including direct support of Hamas.”

Immediately after Hamas launched terrorist attacks against Israel, Tester issued a statement strongly condemning the attacks and supporting Israel’s right to defend itself.

On Monday, Tester became one of the first U.S. Senators to call on the Biden Administration to immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal.

The full text of Tester’s bipartisan letter can be found HERE.