Blinken's denial of Hamas-Iran link sparks criticism and concerns

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected claims that the recently unfrozen Iranian assets facilitated Hamas's attack on Israel, stating that none of the money has been spent yet and can only be used for humanitarian purposes. The $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil assets, transferred from South Korea to Qatar, were part of an agreement to exchange detainees between the US and Iran. Blinken emphasized that the funds are closely regulated by the Treasury Department and can only be used for food, medicine, and medical equipment. While Iran has a history of supporting Hamas, Blinken clarified that the funds have not been used by Iran for any other purposes. Critics argue that the release of the assets could indirectly free up other funds for Iran to support Hamas, but Blinken and other officials have not yet found direct evidence linking Iran to the recent attack.