I can't find a straight answer on the US releasing asset $$$ to Iran

[Septua]

Can someone help me out? The repugs are making out it's why the Middle East wars started...I know better but need some talking points.

Thanks in advance...

[LeftInTX]

1. I saw complaints about this after Hamas attacked Israel

From August 2023
Iran transfers 5 Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest in step toward deal for full release
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has moved five Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest in exchange for billions of dollars frozen in South Korea, U.S. and Iranian officials said Thursday, as part of a tentative deal that follows months of heightened tensions between the two countries.

Iranian officials at the United Nations told The Associated Press that the prisoner transfer marked “a significant initial step” in the implementation of the agreement, which is still being negotiated and could eventually lead to the full release of the Americans.

Iran acknowledged that the deal involves $6 billion to $7 billion that were frozen as a result of sanctions. Iranian officials said the money would be transferred to Qatar before being sent on to Iran if the agreement goes through.

The final transfer of the money — and the release of the five detainees — is expected in the next month or so due to the complicated nature of the financial transactions, officials said.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-prisoners-house-arrest-7be581f79f66636355600627dda3a5ae

_____________
Oct 8:
Iran prisoner swap for $6 billion in spotlight after Hamas attacks Israel

WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The Palestinian group Hamas's surprise assault on Israel Saturday and Israel's retaliation have killed more than 1,100 people and focused attention on the Iran-backed Islamist group.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September.

Blinken also said he had "not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there’s certainly a long relationship."
snip
The funds were not dispersed to Iran. Qatar's central bank is overseeing the funds, which are still in Doha.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-prisoner-swap-6-billion-spotlight-after-hamas-attacks-israel-2023-10-09/

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I don't see the connection. But repugs are gonna repug

[SocialDemocrat61]

2. I believe the funds can only be used for certain efforts

none of them military. And there is an independent arbitrator who controls the funds. Of course, that’s very general on my part so you might want to do a Google search.

[Igel]

3. You need to state a falsifiable hypothesis.

The $6 billion in Iranian funds released from S. Korean banks didn't fund Hamas' build up. In October. Finding info about it since then is iffy.

Fact-checkers focused on whether it was "American money" or was used by Hamas at the time to build weapons for 7-10. These were extreme minority views and most fact-checkers showed that strawmen are straw and not actually human. Give them a Heistman cup for their great victory. Over straw.

There were other concessions in exchange for Iranian cooperation. I esp. liked the one where funds were released (whose? don't know, don't care) if Iran didn't concentrate fissionable uranium over the 90% level.

An Israeli premier once said that the neighborhood was inhabited by crazies. And if you wanted to make them pause, you had to out-crazy the local crazies.

Not sure that's a long-term strategy, but it's worked as a short term (by which I mean 70-year) tactic. Netanyahu abandoned the tactic. Because Hamas out-strategized him. Probably with Iranian help, trying to re-establish their empire.

[marble falls]

4. Whatever the GOP says, ignore it.