Senator Ted Cruz of Texas vehemently criticized President Joe Biden for the recent decision to pay $6 billion to Iran in order to secure the release of five Americans who were held captive. As the money was transferred to Qatar, and then released for humanitarian aid, Cruz pointed out that it will eventually end up in the hands of Iran’s military, which will use it to build deadly drones.
Cruz accused the Biden administration of funding “both sides of the war” in Ukraine, as they are simultaneously requesting $24 billion to support the Ukrainian military while sending $16 billion to Iran, a known ally of Russia. He noted that Iran has a track record of using funds to support terrorist activities, and that the drones they are building with this money will ultimately be used against Americans and their allies.
The Bloomberg “Balance of Power” co-hosts, Joe Mathieu and Annmarie Hordern, pushed back at Cruz’s claims, stating that the money being released to Iran was from oil sales conducted under waivers granted by the previous Trump administration. However, Cruz stood firm in his stance, stating that regardless of its source, the money will still end up in the hands of Iran’s military and be used for nefarious purposes.
“It is a 100% certainty that this money that they’re sending to Iran will be used to fund terrorism to kill Americans,” declared Cruz, highlighting the danger of the Biden administration’s decision.
The five Iranians released include Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, who was charged with failing to register as a foreign agent and allegedly spreading propaganda, as well as Amin Hasanzadeh, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, and Kambiz Attar Kashani, who were charged with illegally sending technology and materials to Iran. With these individuals now free, there is a risk that they will continue their nefarious activities, fueled by the $6 billion released by the Biden administration.
Cruz’s biggest concern, however, is that Iran will use these funds to build and supply deadly drones, as they have done in the past. In October, Iranian troops reportedly trained Russian forces in Crimea on how to use drones to carry out attacks on Ukrainian targets. This only further heightens the danger posed by the Biden administration’s decision to release such a large sum of money to a country that has repeatedly demonstrated hostility towards the United States and its allies.
In conclusion, Senator Ted Cruz strongly criticized President Joe Biden’s decision to release $6 billion to Iran, stating that it will inevitably be used to fund terrorism and harm American interests. He also expressed concern that the money will be used to build deadly drones, which will pose a threat not only to the US but also its allies. Cruz’s stance serves as a reminder of the importance of carefully considering the potential consequences of such actions, especially when it comes to dealing with hostile nations.