VIDEO: Ricketts: “It’s Naive & Stupid to Think If We Give Them Enough Money Iran Will Play Nice”

October 17, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, called on Congress to pass a long-term freeze of the $6 billion President Joe Biden was going to allow Iran to access.

Following the attack on Israel, the Biden administration reached a “quiet understanding” with Qatar to re-freeze the $6 billion. Ricketts believes a long-term solution is needed and has co-sponsored two pieces of legislation to block Iran’s access to these funds.

“It is naive and stupid to think, that if we give them enough money, Iran will play nice,” said Ricketts. “It’s not going to happen. The $6 billion is part of an overall package of $50 billion in sanction relief that the Biden administration has given back to Iran… These brutal attacks on our closest ally in the Middle East demonstrate that this must end. We must stop this foolishness of thinking that we can be bring Iran around.”

“It is crazy to give them money so they can support Hamas,” Ricketts continued. “Whether or not they actually planned this attack with Hamas or not, they have been supporting Hamas and they are responsible for this attack… But let me tell you, temporarily freezing $6 billion when we have seen the atrocities in Israel does not cut it. All of this money needs to be stopped and stopped permanently.”

A full transcript of Ricketts’ comments is available below and you can watch the video HERE.

Ricketts has co-sponsored two bills to block Iran’s access to the $6 billion the Biden administration released in August:

• Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky)introduced legislation that would block Iran from accessing the $6 billion in funds the Biden administration released in August.
• The Revoke Iranian Funding Act introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) would rescind the general licenses that enabled the release of $6 billion to Iran, prevent the Iranian regime from accessing and using the funds held in Qatar to finance terrorism, and direct the Treasury Secretary to explore the need for further targeted sanctions against Iranian assets around the world.

TRANSCRIPT

Senator Ricketts: “We stand with Israel and we must end this appeasement strategy by the Biden administration toward Iran.

“I’m glad the president finally saw some common sense in temporarily freezing the $6 billion. But let’s remember, this was a deal cut in secret by the Biden administration, and if the Wall Street Journalreports are accurate, Iran was double dealing with us. Talking to Hamas, planning this attack at the same time negotiating and getting the $6 billion from us.

“That just shows you the level of contempt that Iran has for the Biden administration.

“It is naive and stupid to think, that if we give them enough money, that Iran will play nice. It’s not going to happen. 

“The $6 billion is part of an overall package of $50 billion in sanction relief that the Biden administration has given back to Iran. This must end. 

“These brutal attacks on our closest ally in the Middle East demonstrate that this must end.

“We must stop this foolishness of thinking that we can be bring Iran around. We must make sure that this stops. 

“And remember, what the Biden administration said is, ‘Oh, look, this $6 billion. This is for humanitarian aid. It’s for food.’ 

“How dumb do they think we are? If you have $60.00 you are going to go spend on groceries and I give you $60.00 and say, ‘Hey, go spend this on groceries.’ You can go spend that $60 on anything you want.

“Money can be spent anywhere and in fact the Iranians have said they’re going to spend the money any way they want. And as has already been noted here, they’re the largest state sponsor of terrorism.

“It is crazy to give them money so they can support Hamas. 

“Whether or not they actually planned this attack with Hamas or not, they have been supporting Hamas and they are responsible for this attack.

“And so, I joined my colleagues in saying that this must end. We must stop supporting Iran, and we must send a very strong message that we stand with Israel. 

“I want to thank Senator Blackburn for her efforts to be able to make this happen. I’m also on board with some of the other bills, like by Senator Scott and Senator Cotton, to stop this as well. 

But let me tell you, temporarily freezing $6 billion when we have seen the atrocities in Israel does not cut it. All of this money needs to be stopped and stopped permanently.

“And that’s why I appreciate the effort of Senator Blackburn, of my colleagues to make sure that happens.

“We must end this appeasement strategy toward Iran. We must stand with Israel.”