President Joe Biden is trying his best to strike the right balance after war erupted in the Middle East over the weekend. Mr. Biden has been praised for his steadfast support of Israel after the Hamas terrorist attacks.
The leader of the free world even told Iran to be “careful.” He said: “We moved the U.S. carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean and we are sending more fighter jets to that region, and made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful.”
Moreover, he assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that America will help the country fight the Hamas militants.
However, the president has to consider a few things as he seeks a second term. Biden has to decide how tough to be when it comes to Iran.
Many Iran hawks say that the Biden administration should punish the Persian country for supporting terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere around the globe. The primary way to do this would be through sanctions on the export of oil.
However, such a move would cause prices to go up in the United States. Soaring prices would hurt Biden’s reelection chances. So, the president is weighing his options amid intense calls for him to be decisive on Iran.
People in Biden’s own party are calling on him to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets that were recently unfrozen after a prisoner swap.
Congressman Ruben Gallego, who is running for Kyrsten Sinema‘s Senate seat in Arizona, asks Biden to go after Iran.
He said in a statement: “As we learn more about Iran’s role in these horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, one thing is clear: we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in assets and use available tools to discourage Iran’s illicit conduct. Our ally Israel is at war, and while the conflict continues, we must stand united.”
Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who is running for a Senate seat in Michigan, took the same path and added: “The longstanding financial, material, and weapons support from Iran to Hamas is significant – and we know at minimum that the Iranian regime is seeking to take advantage of Hamas’ attack against Israel. Based on what I heard today in our classified briefing, I believe we need to hit the pause button on any release of the funds that were part of this deal.”
Nevada Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are also pushing Biden to target the Iranian funds.
Biden and his administration have spent months trying to smooth things over with Iran. However, the Hamas attacks are changing the landscape for a president running for reelection.
