Washington, D.C.- A bipartisan group of over 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives is calling for President Joe Biden to increase pressure on Iran for its role in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The group, led by Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D), Josh Gottheimer (D), and Don Bacon (R) sent a letter to President Biden late Monday night.
The letter requests Biden respond to Iran’s support of Hamas’ brutal war against Israel.
The 110 members thanked Biden for his “unwavering support for the State of Israel” but noted the need for more action in order to counter Iran, Hamas’ main funding source.
“Iran must be held fully accountable for its continued role in funding Hamas and Islamic terror” and the Biden administration should “take all necessary steps to cut off Iranian funding sources,” reads the letter.
Last week, US Representative David Schweikert (R-Arizona) was joined by a bevy of Republicans in the House of Representatives to propose freezing US funds to Iran through the Fortify Israel Act.
The Fortify Israel Act would prohibit President Joe Biden from releasing frozen Iranian assets back to Iran and enable him to instead use these to support Israel’s defense efforts against Hamas.
Similar bills have been introduced thereafter, mounting pressure on the Biden administration to use executive power to levy sanctions on Iran given the House cannot move forward on legislation until a speaker is chosen.
Congress members are also requesting Biden “put significant pressure on Qatar and Türkiye to cease their support for Hamas”.
The letter states it is unacceptable that Ismail Haniyeh, the leader behind Hamas’ attack on Israel, “sits comfortably in Qatar, a U.S. strategic partner in CENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility.”
