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Senator Tom Cotton warns Trump's Iran deal will give regime '$200 million a day to fund terrorism'

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • US Senator Tom Cotton warns that lifting sanctions on Iran's oil exports could provide the regime with $200 million daily to fund terrorism.
  • Cotton expressed concern that this funding would be used for military buildup and supporting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, rather than domestic needs.
  • Israeli officials also criticized the deal, viewing it as detrimental to Israel and the global community, with a poll indicating a majority of Israelis feel less safe.

U.S. Republican Senator Tom Cotton has voiced strong criticism of aspects of the Iran deal, warning that lifting sanctions on the regime's oil exports could provide it with approximately $200 million per day. Cotton stated on Fox News that this substantial influx of funds is unlikely to be used for civilian purposes like daycares or hospitals.

That's a lot of money, and we know that this terrorist regime isn't going to spend that money on daycares or hospitals, they're going to use it to rebuild their drone stockpiles, their missile, to fund Hamas, and to fund Hezbollah.

— Tom CottonExplaining his concern about the financial implications of lifting sanctions on Iran's oil exports.

Instead, Cotton asserted, the Iranian regime would likely channel the money into rebuilding its drone and missile stockpiles, and crucially, to fund groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. He described Iran as a "revolutionary terrorist regime" and expressed concern that certain provisions of the deal represent a "step in the wrong direction," potentially undermining efforts to weaken the Iranian regime, despite acknowledging President Trump's efforts to that end.

aspects of this deal [with Iran] are a step in the wrong direction.

— Tom CottonExpressing his reservations about the terms of the agreement with Iran.

Cotton also highlighted vaguer elements of the memorandum of understanding, seeking clarification on Iran's potential access to up to $100 billion in frozen funds and its ability to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. He expressed hope that President Trump would prevent such outcomes, reiterating credit for weakening Iran but emphasizing the need for further explanation on these points.

We will need more explanation there. I hope President Trump won't allow those things to happen because again, he deserves enormous credit for making Iran weaker.

— Tom CottonSeeking further clarification on specific provisions of the Iran deal.

Israeli officials have also strongly condemned the deal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called it "bad for Israel and for the entire free world." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated Israel is "not a banana republic," while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett labeled it a "historic failure." A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute revealed that 57.5% of Israelis anticipate the deal will diminish their country's safety.

the deal was “bad for Israel and for the entire free world.”

— Bezalel SmotrichIsraeli Finance Minister's criticism of the Iran deal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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