Obama says nothing ‘nefarious’ about $400m hard cash sent to Iran
- 8 years ago
WASHINGTON — The Wall Street Journal recently revealed that U.S. President Barack Obama sanctioned the $400 million delivery of cash to Iran in January of this year. The cash was delivered on the same day Tehran released four American prisoners, although U.S. officials maintain that was merely a coincidence and the money was not in exchange for the Americans’ release.
The Obama administration says the money is the first part of a $1.7 billion Hague Tribunal settlement between the U.S. and Iran from an arms dispute dating back to 1979.
The transfer consisted of Euros, Swiss Francs and other currency, obtained from central banks in Switzerland and the Netherlands, CNN reported. It was placed on on wooden pallets before being delivered to Iran aboard an unmarked cargo plane.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, President Obama said there was nothing “nefarious” about the payment. He explained it was delivered in cash because the U.S. has no banking relations with Iran.
Some Republicans and other critics of the payment claim the exchange amounts to paying ransom for the Americans. They argue the money will be used by Tehran to sponsor terrorism.
The Obama administration says the money is the first part of a $1.7 billion Hague Tribunal settlement between the U.S. and Iran from an arms dispute dating back to 1979.
The transfer consisted of Euros, Swiss Francs and other currency, obtained from central banks in Switzerland and the Netherlands, CNN reported. It was placed on on wooden pallets before being delivered to Iran aboard an unmarked cargo plane.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, President Obama said there was nothing “nefarious” about the payment. He explained it was delivered in cash because the U.S. has no banking relations with Iran.
Some Republicans and other critics of the payment claim the exchange amounts to paying ransom for the Americans. They argue the money will be used by Tehran to sponsor terrorism.