Iran has used tens of millions of the recent $1.7 billion it received from the U.S. to bolster its worldwide terrorism operations, including giving funds to organizations which have murdered American citizens, according to an analysis by The American Action Forum.
The non-profit group estimated this as a base figure after detailed research into how the Iranian budget is spent and then taking the corresponding percentage of the funds given to Tehran by the U.S.
This formula would put at least $37.4 million in hands of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is responsible for orchestrating terror attacks that have killed Americans.
The research comes as many question the wisdom of the Obama administration's decision to hand Iran billions in cash and demand more information about the deal.
Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained to CNN that as part of the nuclear deal with Tehran last year, sanctions were lifted against the Iranian Republic that freed up previously frozen Iranian assets, such as money the U.S. owed from an arms deal to the shah that did not go through.
Blinken insisted that the funds the U.S. transferred are going to help the Iranian economy and are not being used for military purposes. He also denied that the money represented a quid pro quo to free American prisoners earlier this year, a charge critics of President Barack Obama have made.
House Intelligence Committee member Rep. Mike Pompeo told The Washington Free Beacon, "For the Obama administration to argue that the IRGC was somehow not involved in the U.S. transfer of $1.7 billion… to Iran is totally unconvincing.
"Given the IRGC's extensive control of the Iranian economy, and its vast influence with Iran's regime, it was most likely influential in the set-up and execution of the payment. Like other malicious actors, the IRGC is eager to get its hands on cash to fund its terrorist activities."
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