A consortium of Senate Republicans led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wrote a pointed letter to President Joe Biden amid the breakout of violence between Israel and terrorist group Hamas. The lawmakers called on the president to freeze the $6 billion in funding to Iran that he recently approved.

The letter comes as Iran faces increased scrutiny over its role in helping Hamas launch a devastating surprise attack on Israel. Critics argue that releasing the funding to Tehran made it easier for the regime to support the terrorist organization's assault on Israel.

In the letter, the Republican lawmakers noted that Iran “is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism” and referred to a Wall Street Journal report detailing how members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps collaborated with Hamas to plan the attacks. They asserted that “to stand by and allow Iran access to these funds as Hamas infiltrates Israel and murders, rapes, and mutilates countless Israelis is unconscionable.”

If the funds have not been released to Iran, President Biden should immediately void the agreement and freeze the $6 billion ransom payment. https://t.co/4fNRbQAm46

— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 8, 2023

The letter also addresses the argument that the money Biden sent to Iran was only to be used for humanitarian aid. However, as others have pointed out, the lawmakers argued that “money is fungible” and that “there is a significant risk they could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.”

“The State Department should immediately rescind the waivers that allowed Iranian funds to be converted and move to more accessible bank accounts, as well as work with U.S. ally Qatar to immediately freeze the accounts containing these funds,” the letter read.

Blackburn also cut a video explaining the purpose of the letter.

In the midst of the bloody conflict that has already claimed over 1,000 lives, including at least nine Americans, the dynamics of the war could be significantly impacted if the U.S. froze the funds it sent to Iran. The move could potentially damage Hamas’ operational capacity by depriving it of its main source of funding.

The attack showed a troubling level of sophistication and coordination that far outpaced previous operations that Hamas has undertaken. It was this precision that raised suspicions regarding who was helping the terrorist group carry out the onslaught. In light of this, it makes sense that removing Iran’s funding would hamper Hamas’ ability to launch further attacks of this type against Israel and would weaken its ability to exert control over the Gaza Strip.

Freezing Iran’s funding would likely make it easier for Israel to neutralize the threat that Hamas poses. Yet, the Biden administration is unlikely to make such a move. Since the fighting began, the president’s response has been rather lackluster. Moreover, Biden’s approach to Iran and other problematic nations has been more conciliatory than aggressive.

While there is certainly a place for diplomacy, there is a difference between establishing peaceful relations and outright funding a terrorist group that poses a threat not only to Israeli civilians but also to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that the group claims to be protecting.