Centrist Senate Dems call for freezing $6 billion in Iran assets after Hamas attack in Israel

A group of centrist Senate Democrats is calling for $6 billion in Iran assets to be refrozen following the Hamas attack in Israel, joining Senate Republicans in the rallying cry against the Biden administration.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said Tuesday that lawmakers "should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided," including freezing the $6 billion in assets "at a minimum." Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told POLITICO he would support doing the same.

"I wasn’t supportive of the initial $6 billion transfer. We should absolutely freeze these Iranian assets while we also consider additional sanctions," Manchin said.

Sen. Jacky Rosen echoed that sentiment: “In light of Hamas’s violent and horrific terrorist attack on Israel and Iran’s long-standing support for Hamas, we should freeze these assets," the Nevada Democrat said in a statement to POLITICO.