Washington Free Beacon: Biden Administration Extends Iraq's Exemption from Sanctions on the Islamic Republic

According to a letter sent to Congress late Wednesday, which the Washington Free Beacon claims to have seen a copy of, the Biden administration has once again extended Iraq's exemption from sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The publication previously reported on Tuesday about concerns from a group of Republican lawmakers regarding the extension of this exemption, stating that they believe the Islamic Republic uses this money for terrorist activities in the Middle East. On November 23, the Biden administration extended Iraq's exemption from U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic for 120 days to allow payment of debts to Tehran for electricity purchases, permitting Baghdad to deposit its debt into an account in Oman. At that time, criticisms were raised, which the White House called 'misleading political attacks,' asserting that this is not the first time a sanctions exemption has been extended and that the Islamic Republic can only purchase non-sanctioned items with this money. The renewed exemption comes at a time when terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the Houthis in Yemen, all supported by the Islamic Republic, have escalated tensions throughout the Middle East in recent months. A group of U.S. lawmakers warned that the Biden administration is facilitating financial access for terrorism by easing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Senators have requested the Biden administration to reconsider the sanctions exemptions for the Islamic Republic. The House Majority Leader criticized Biden's policy toward the Islamic Republic. The White House stated that Iran can only purchase 'non-sanctioned items' with the money from selling electricity to Iraq. Richard Goldberg remarked that the Islamic Republic will not change its behavior and that pressure must be applied.