John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, defended the administration’s decision during a press briefing on Monday in response to a question from Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy regarding the unfreezing of Iranian funds.
Iran retaliated against Israel by launching numerous ballistic missiles and suicide drones on Saturday, following Israel’s retaliation on April 1 at an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria. After the attack, Doocy inquired whether the administration had any regrets about releasing $6 billion in assets to Iran in return for the release of five American prisoners.
“Really? No, I don’t think so,” Kirby quipped, before Doocy specified the transaction.
“You’re going to say it’s for humanitarian purposes, but doesn’t that un —” Doocy began before Kirby cut him off.
“— but you don’t believe me?” Kirby responded.
“— well, doesn’t that free up money for them to spend on other stuff? But where do you get the money for an unprecedented number of munitions to — to fire at Israel?” Doocy responded.
“So, first of all, I’m betting, if they’re sitting in Tehran, they’re taking it seriously when President Biden says he’s going to defend Israel, we put skin in the game — a whole heckuva lot of it, and knocked almost everything out of the sky,” Kirby said.
“So, I’m betting they’re taking it pretty seriously. And, as for this — this unfreezing, that none of that fun [sic] — none of those funds — funds set up in an account, by the way, by the previous administration, goes directly to the Supreme Leader, the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]. Can only be used for humanitarian purposes and we’re watching that account very, very closely to make sure that that’s what happens,” Kirby responded.