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The $150 Billion Question: What MbS Reveals About Iran's Proxy Empire


Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made a stunning revelation about the $150 billion in sanctions relief provided to Iran under the Obama administration. According to the Saudi leader, the funds were not used to build a single street or improve the lives of ordinary Iranians. Instead, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) channeled the money into missiles, drones, and the arming of regional proxies including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The comments, circulating widely on social media, have reignited a fierce debate about the legacy of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

What Did Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman Say About Obama and Iran?

According to remarks widely shared across social media platforms, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman alleged that the $150 billion in assets unfrozen under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was effectively a blank check for the IRGC's regional ambitions. The Saudi leader reportedly stated that instead of investing in infrastructure or addressing domestic economic challenges, Iran's Revolutionary Guard used the capital to manufacture missiles and drones . The funds also allegedly provided the financial backbone for arming groups like Hamas, Ansar Allah (the Houthis), and Hezbollah.



How Much Money Did Obama Give Iran in the Nuclear Deal?

The $150 billion figure refers to Iranian assets that had been frozen in overseas accounts due to international sanctions. When the JCPOA was implemented in 2016, the Obama administration waived key sanctions, allowing Iran to repatriate an estimated $100 to $150 billion in assets. While proponents of the deal argued that these funds would be used for domestic economic recovery, critics warned that the money would instead fuel Iran's military ambitions and support for terrorism . The Congressional Research Service noted that while sanctions relief helped Iran achieve economic growth in 2016-2017, it also enabled continued regional activities .

What Did the IRGC Do With the $150 Billion in Sanctions Relief?

Rather than building roads, hospitals, or schools, the IRGC prioritized weapons development. Under the cover of sanctions relief, Iran's Revolutionary Guard expanded its ballistic missile program and drone capabilities. According to the Brookings Institution, the IRGC emerged as a major beneficiary of the JCPOA, with the influx of resources strengthening the Guard's hold on Iran's economy and its ability to project power across the region . The Hudson Institute similarly concluded that the deal was a "huge victory" for regime hardliners, reinforcing the IRGC's privileged position .

Why Does Iran Support Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis?

Iran's support for these groups serves a strategic purpose: projecting power beyond its borders without direct military confrontation. The IRGC's Quds Force, the external operations wing, has cultivated relationships with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. US Treasury sanctions have repeatedly targeted Iranian networks funding these groups, including a 2025 action against IRGC Brigadier General Jamshid Eshaghi, who was sanctioned for operating an oil network that generated hundreds of millions of dollars for regional proxies . This proxy strategy allows Iran to threaten US allies and Israeli interests while maintaining plausible deniability.

Did Iran Provide Safe Haven to Al-Qaeda Leaders?

Multiple intelligence sources confirm that Iran has hosted senior Al-Qaeda leaders for years. According to Al Arabiya English, high-ranking Al-Qaeda figures including Saif al-Adel, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, and several of bin Laden's sons, including Hamza, were given safe haven in Iran under IRGC protection . The relationship reportedly began around 2002, when Osama bin Laden crossed into Iran after the US invasion of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda leaders lived in a luxury compound near Tehran, protected by the IRGC, with some allegedly receiving financial and logistical support . Analysts suggest the IRGC sought to use Al-Qaeda as a proxy against shared enemies .

How Does Iran Fund Its Regional Proxy Network?

Iran employs a sophisticated financial network to fund its proxies. According to the Congressional Research Service, Iran maintains a general ban on US trade, but has developed complex mechanisms to circumvent sanctions, including using foreign-based front companies and brokers . The 2025 Treasury action against Eshaghi revealed a network shipping Iranian crude oil to China through front companies, generating revenue for Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah . European countries have expressed concern that even under sanctions, Iran continues to support these groups, prompting ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain Iranian influence.

FAQs: Your Questions About Iran, the IRGC, and Regional Security

What did Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman say about Obama and Iran?
Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly stated that the $150 billion in sanctions relief provided under the Obama administration was used by the IRGC to build missiles and drones and to fund terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, rather than for infrastructure in Iran .

How much money did Obama actually give Iran?
The Obama administration did not "give" Iran money. Rather, the JCPOA unfroze an estimated $100 to $150 billion in Iranian assets that had been blocked in overseas accounts due to international sanctions .

Did Iran really provide safe haven to Al-Qaeda leaders?
Yes. Multiple intelligence reports confirm that senior Al-Qaeda figures, including Osama bin Laden's son Hamza and military commander Saif al-Adel, were harbored in Iran under IRGC protection for years .

What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)?
The IRGC is a powerful branch of Iran's military responsible for protecting the Islamic Republic's political system. It controls significant economic assets and manages Iran's network of regional proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas .

Why is Saudi Arabia accusing Iran of destabilizing the region?
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have accused Iran of launching drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities and desalination plants, and of interfering in the internal affairs of neighboring states .


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