Whistleblowers informed senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson that the Obama-Biden State Department obstructed the FBI from executing arrest warrants on individuals illegally supporting Iranian weapons efforts. Grassley and Johnson sent letters to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding this issue. The Obama-Biden administration’s Joint Plan of Action led to the JCPOA, known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, signed by President Obama in 2015, with the promise of enforcing sanctions against Iran.
Despite maintaining public commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, then-Secretary of State John Kerry interfered with the FBI’s efforts to execute arrest warrants on individuals in the US involved in supporting Iranian weapons development. Records show that the Department of Justice and FBI leadership failed to stop Kerry’s obstruction. Emails obtained suggest that the State Department blocked FBI actions related to the Iran nuclear deal, preventing arrests and allowing subjects to evade law enforcement.
Warnings about the failure to arrest known Iranians subject to warrants were raised as early as 2015, citing political reasons for the interference. Emails from FBI officials detail instances where the State Department blocked actions by the FBI related to Iran. There was a meeting between then-AG Loretta Lynch and Secretary Kerry discussing the State Department’s interference in FBI investigations. Tensions were observed between Lynch and Kerry regarding extradition approvals in Iran cases.
The State Department’s alleged interference into FBI investigations became a significant issue, leading to discussions between AG Lynch and Kerry. Emails from Shell corporate to an FBI official suggest the impact of the Trump election win on business in Iran. Grassley and Johnson are requesting records from email archives of Kerry, CIA Director Bill Burns, Wendy Sherman, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the Iran nuclear deal and related topics by June 4. The FBI and DOJ confirmed receipt of Grassley’s letter, while the State Department did not immediately respond.
Grassley and Johnson are requesting records regarding specific terms related to the Iran deal and law enforcement actions against Iranian citizens. The FBI and DOJ have received the letters but declined further comment. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This investigation sheds light on the alleged interference by the Obama-Biden State Department in FBI efforts to arrest individuals involved in supporting Iranian weapons development, raising questions about political motivations behind the obstruction of justice.
