South Korean oil payments for Iran frozen again over Hamas links

South Korea's $6 billion payment for Iranian crude oil has been frozen by the US administration again due to rising tensions regarding Iran's suspected links to the militant group Hamas, according to reports from multiple media outlets on Friday, including The New York Times.
These funds were originally intended for humanitarian assistance under strict US oversight. Now held in a Qatari bank, they are caught up in a diplomatic tangle following recent Hamas-initiated hostilities against Israel.
In a gesture of diplomacy, the US had previously planned in August to unfreeze these and other Iranian assets, especially after brokering a deal that secured the release of detained Americans in Iran.
However, with the shadow of Iran's potential ties to Hamas looming, key US figures, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have called for a more cautious approach towards releasing these funds, emphasizing the potential misuse of such revenues.
US Secretary of State Tony Blinken, during his recent visit to Israel, had confirmed that the aforementioned funds remain untouched in the Qatari bank. Furthermore, Senator Lindsey Graham has put forth the idea of a US-Israel collaborative strategy to curtail Iranian oil operations.
While there's no direct evidence tying Iran to the recent Hamas activities, the US remains cautious due to their historical relationship. Iran has denied any recent engagement or support for Hamas actions.
相关文章
[view] 민심 더 싸늘해지는데…감동 없는 김기현 2기
10·11 서울 강서구청장 보궐선거 참패로 예고된 대로 집권여당과 용산에 대한 민심이 일주일도 안 돼 싸늘해졌다. 특히 수도권 민심 이탈이 심각했다. 16일 공개된 정치 고관여층이2023-12-11TvN Sports, CGV to screen Bundesliga’s first ‘Korean derby’
Cable channel tvN Sports and South Korean cinema operator CJ CGV announced the livestreaming of an u2023-12-11[Contribution] Why hope matters in climate crisis
By Yoo Hee-dong“Your task is not to foresee the future, but to enable it.” This is the message impar2023-12-11New government initiative offers W3b reward to combat digital piracy
In a move to counter escalating copyright infringement issues, the South Korean government announced2023-12-11[Top Envoy] Russian satellite help not likely priority for North Korea: Chun
Chun Yung-woo, a former South Korean national security adviser and chief negotiator for the six-part2023-12-11Reeling from election loss, ruling party picks new leader posts
The ruling People Power Party, confronted with a deepening crisis following a landslide defeat in a2023-12-11
最新评论