Fact Check: Did Obama and Joe Biden make payments to fund Iran's nuclear program?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East that have led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader and four American military personnel, a rumor has been circulating on social media platforms that former president Barack Obama and Joe Biden funded Iran's nuclear program. Let us analyse and fact-check the viral claim.
Claim: Barack Obama and Joe Biden funded Iran's nuclear program
The claim was based on the payments that the administrations of Joe Biden and Barack Obama released to Iran.
President Donald Trump and the officials in his administration have reiterated many claims about the payments, alleging they were used by Iran to fund their nuclear program, amounting to $17.6 million combined.
Since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, February 28, the claim was amplified by MAGA accounts, who used it to attack Democrats and the previous administration for collaborating with the Islamic Republic.
Fact Check: No conclusive evidence to prove the claim
There is no credible evidence to prove that Iran used that money to fund its nuclear program, which, according to them are purely for civilian purposes.
In 2016, Obama transferred $1.7 billion in cash to Iran, as part of a settlement for a failed pre-1979 arms deal, and an initial $400 million was delivered by plane on January 17, 2016, which coincided with the release of American prisoners.
The Biden administration approved waivers that allowed Iran to access about $10 billion from Iraqi electricity payments that were being held in escrow. These waivers had been extended several times over the years.
Additionally, $6 billion in funds held in Qatar as part of a hostage agreement were unfrozen; however, officials stated that the funds remained restricted and could only be used for humanitarian purposes.
Under the Biden administration, Iran was given access to approximately $16 billion.
Thus, the Biden administration and the Obama administration made a combined $17.7 billion in funds available to Iran.
Iran launches retaliatory strike after Ayatollah Khamenei's death
The claim emerged following the death of Khamenei, who was killed following a devastating joint military operation launched by the United States and Israel.
While Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi initially claimed both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter has since informed US officials that the Supreme Leader was killed during the targeted strike on his compound.
After Saturday’s incident, Iran launched aggressive strikes across the Middle East, mostly targeting nations that host American military bases, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The attacks proved fatal, taking the lives of many civilians, damaging property, and bringing air and water traffic to a halt.
