SEIZE Act Turns Intercepted Iranian Arms Into Immediate Military Aid for U.S. Allies

The Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization Act of 2025—or the SEIZE Act—is a bill focused on streamlining what happens to weapons the U.S. military intercepts while they are being illegally shipped from Iran to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Fast Track for Seized Weapons

This bill gives the President a new, specific power: to treat any weapons or military “materiel” seized on its way from Iran to the Houthis as if it were already part of the U.S. military’s own inventory or stock. Think of it like this: If the Coast Guard or Navy intercepts a shipment of rifles, missiles, or drones, those items skip the long bureaucratic process and are immediately reclassified as U.S. property. This is laid out in Section 2, which amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Once reclassified as U.S. stock, the President can use these seized arms to provide military assistance to foreign partners. Essentially, the bill creates a dedicated, rapid pipeline for repurposing weapons intended for a hostile group and using them to arm allies instead. This is a direct, practical way to disrupt an adversary’s supply chain while simultaneously bolstering partners without dipping into existing U.S. military budgets or waiting for new appropriations.

Who Gets the Gear and Why It Matters

For foreign partners, this could mean faster, more targeted military aid. If an allied nation needs specific equipment that the U.S. knows Iran is shipping to the Houthis—like certain types of anti-tank weapons or drones—the U.S. can now transfer the next intercepted shipment directly to that ally. This is a significant operational shift, allowing the U.S. to turn a defensive interception into an immediate, offensive foreign policy tool.

While this authority is focused and efficient, it does give the President new unilateral power to decide which allies receive these arms. To keep things transparent, the bill requires the President to report to Congress every year. This report must detail how many times the authority was used, a full inventory of the weapons reclassified as U.S. stock, and a list of all the weapons actually transferred to foreign partners. This mandatory reporting ensures that Congress—specifically the Armed Services and Foreign Relations/Affairs Committees—can track this new military aid pipeline and keep tabs on the executive branch’s use of this authority.