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[shanafan]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...iran-as-detained-americans-were-released.html

The U.S. government airlifted the equivalent of $400 million to Iran this past January, which occurred as four detained Americans were released by Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The cash transfer was the first installment paid in a $1.7 billion settlement the Obama administration reached with Iran to resolve a failed 1979 arms deal dating from just before the Iranian Revolution.

State Department spokesman John Kirby denied the cash transfer was done to secure the release of the four Americans -- Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian; Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine; Christian pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, whose case had not been publicized before the release.

"The negotiations over the [arms deal] settlement ... were completely separate from the discussions about returning our American citizens home," Kirby said in a statement. "Not only were the two negotiations separate, they were conducted by different teams on each side."

"The funds that were transferred to Iran were related solely to the settlement of a long-standing claim at the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal at The Hague," Kirby's statement concluded.

However, the Journal says U.S. officials acknowledge that Iranian negotiators on the prisoner exchange said they wanted the cash to show they had gained something tangible.

The Journal also reported that President Barack Obama did not disclose the $400 million cash payment when he announced Jan. 17 that the arms deal dispute had been resolved. The administration has not disclosed how the $1.7 billion was paid, except to say it was not paid in dollars.

The cash flown to Iran consisted of euros, Swiss francs, and other currencies because U.S. law forbids transacting American dollars with Iran.

Since the cash was airlifted, Iran's Revolutionary Guard has arrested two more Iranian-Americans. Tehran has also detained dual-nationals from France, Canada and the U.K. in recent months.

"Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk," Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said ina statement. "While Americans were relieved by Iran’s overdue release of illegally imprisoned American hostages, the White House’s policy of appeasement has led Iran to illegally seize more Ame

 

[Log4Girlz]

Jack would have used the search function

;p

 

[Abstrusity]

We've certainly had a thread about this already, and it's really a non-issue. The US owed money to Iran because we had taken payment for arms that we never delivered. Before we could deliver them, the Shah was ousted.

 

[shanafan]

Jack would have used the search function

;p

We've certainly had a thread about this already, and it's really a non-issue. The US owed money to Iran because we had taken payment for arms that we never delivered. Before we could deliver them, the Shah was ousted.

I did search for Iran and million, but nothing recent came up.

My apologies but this was a new article so I thought it was new news

 

[Gattsu25]

We've certainly had a thread about this already, and it's really a non-issue. The US owed money to Iran because we had taken payment for arms that we never delivered. Before we could deliver them, the Shah was ousted.

Yeah, it's interesting framing from the right that instantly falls apart if you actually look into it.

Also, old.


Edit: OP, ain't nothing new in that article. It's a paraphrase of last night's.

 

[TheCochese]

We've certainly had a thread about this already.

I know, I posted in it.

It doesn't appear to exist anymore.

 

[TS-08]

I know, I posted in it.

It doesn't appear to exist anymore.

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1257244

?

 

[TheCochese]

http://neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1257244

?

Here's what's odd: it didn't come up in a search for 'WSJ' or 'Iran,' and my post didn't show in my personal post history.

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

Can we talk about how this money was confirmed by the state dept as being used as "leverage" to get the prisoners released?

Yes, this means Obama lied, which is unfortunate. Also I personally fail to see the difference between leverage and payment.

Really not a good precedent

 

[emag]

There's a meaningful difference between leverage -- refusing to pay back a debt until the other actor performs some activity -- and ransom.

 

[Mortemis]

Can we talk about how this money was confirmed by the state dept as being used as "leverage" to get the prisoners released?

Yes, this means Obama lied, which is unfortunate. Also I personally fail to see the difference between leverage and payment.

Really not a good precedent

Link? Was it like "we'll pay you to let them go" or "we'll speed up returning the money we owe you so let them go"

 

[TheCochese]

It was, if you ever want to see this money back we better get our people back.

 

[Izuna]

Again?!

 

[Maz]

Didn't we have two of these already?

 

[BriGuy]

If they were going to deliver the money anyway, I don't see the harm in timing it with the release of prisoners. I actually see it as somewhat prudent; capitalize on the good will $400 million buys and whatnot.

 

[Chumly]

If they were going to deliver the money anyway, I don't see the harm in timing it with the release of prisoners. I actually see it as somewhat prudent; capitalize on the good will $400 million buys and whatnot.

Yea we were giving them the 400 million anyways. I don't see the big deal of basically saying we want to see them released before we deliver our previously agreed upon money payment