Fox News reported this week that the Biden administration has reached a deal under which $6 billion worth of assets confiscated from the Islamic Republic of Iran will be unfrozen in exchange for the release of five Americans.

According to The Hill, critics of the deal have been left furious by what that they see as a gift to Iran's terrorist regime.  

Tim Scott says Biden has a "habit of sending money to terrorists"

That news was greeted by outrage, including from Republican presidential candidate and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

"President Biden can’t seem to cut his habit of sending money to terrorists," the senator complained in a tweet on Tuesday.

President Biden can’t seem to cut his habit of sending money to terrorists. First, it was $400 million to Iran in 2016 when he was VP. Now, it’s $6 billion to Iran on 22nd anniversary of 9/11. This President is putting a price on American lives. Enough is enough. https://t.co/TILtwBUEnT

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) September 12, 2023

"First, it was $400 million to Iran in 2016 when he was VP. Now, it’s $6 billion to Iran on 22nd anniversary of 9/11. This President is putting a price on American lives. Enough is enough," he said.

Mitt Romney predicts more kidnappings

Meanwhile, Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney released a statement in which he argued that the Biden administration's approach will incentivize more violence.

"If we’re paying a billion dollars per kidnapped individual, then you’re going to see more kidnappings," Romney said according to The Hill.

"That’s why you don’t negotiate with terrorists, that’s why you don’t negotiate with kidnappers. The idea of basically paying to release, in this effect, a hostage is a terrible idea,"

"Remember back in the Reagan years, we had — was it — guns for hostages, that was the story, remember that? This is a billion dollars for a hostage," he added.

Tom Cotton: Biden "desecrates" 9/11 anniversary

Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton spoke up as well, tweeting, "First Joe Biden used 9/11 as an excuse to flee Afghanistan. Now he desecrates this day by paying ransom to the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism. Shameful."

First Joe Biden used 9/11 as an excuse to flee Afghanistan. Now he desecrates this day by paying ransom to the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism. Shameful. https://t.co/hxTGe6wGEE

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) September 11, 2023

The Hill noted that criticism wasn't just limited to Republicans, as even Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez voiced concerns.

"This is an example of why we have to go ahead and make it very clear to Americans that they cannot travel to certain places in the world where they are likely to ultimately become a hostage," the New Jersey Democrat was quoted as telling reporters on Monday.