US Un-freezes $8 Billion in Iranian Assets; Administration Courts Israeli Involvement

Critics of the deal cut between the Western powers and Iran are signaling alarm over word from Tehran that the US has un-frozen $8 billion in Iranian assets even before being required to act upon its commitments in the agreement. Israel and France expressed concern that the deal had it backwards: sanctions should be eased according to performance rather than based on promises. News of the $8 billion gesture came from the Iranian state news agency rather than from the White House or State Department. Meanwhile, President Obama went on the offensive against critics of the Iranian nuclear deal stressing that his pre-election campaign promise was “engagement” and that’s what he’s doing. President Obama is also acting to stem the rising anger from Jerusalem where officials were livid at learning of secret dealings between Washington and Tehran while the Israelis were being assured that they were totally in the loop. Obama spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the first order of business was to confer with Israel regarding the details of a final agreement with Iran that is still to be worked out, presumably to muffle the criticism over failing to live up to promises to keep Israel informed. Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal told Bloomberg news that “Iran is the real danger, not Israel.” Bin Talal included Israel with “Saudi Arabia and the Middle Eastern countries” which he said are “really concerned” about the agreement. Echoing the chorus of critics, the prince insisted that beginning with an easing of sanctions is not the way to go. “Keep the pressure on,” he said. “Sanctions are what brought about the negotiations to begin with! Why not keep the pressure up?” In London, Foreign Secretary William Hague issued a blunt warning to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu not to “undermine the agreement in any practical way.”