Iran has increased funding to terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas in the wake of the nuclear agreement brokered with world powers in July.
The Times of Israel reported:
Since the deal was signed, Iran has significantly increased its financial support for two of the largest terror groups in the region that have become political players, Hamas and Hezbollah. ... This support, for example, has enabled Hezbollah to obtain highly developed new armaments, including advanced technologies that many militaries around the world would envy. Al-Rai, a Kuwaiti newspaper, reported Saturday that Hezbollah has received all the advanced weaponry that Syria has obtained from the Russians. ... As regards the Palestinians, in the past two months, Iran has sent suitcases of cash--literally--to Hamas’s military wing in Gaza.
The funding boost indicates that Iran assumes crippling international sanctions will be lifted following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) investigation of Tehran’s past nuclear program.
Sanctions relief under the nuclear deal will funnel potentially hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran, which has been a longtime supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas.
The report of Iran’s increased support to the terror groups comes just as IAEA director Yukiya Amano arrives in the country to begin the U.N. agency’s probe into Tehran’s past nuclear program. Amano is expected to conduct meetings with Iran nuclear scientists.
In December, the IAEA chief will provide the world with answers about the country’s nuclear program and details pointing to whether Iran has abided by the stipulations in the nuclear deal. If the IAEA investigation proves satisfactory, sanctions will be lifted on Iran.