August 03, 2016 · via FoxNews.com
2016: Obama negotiators paid $400 million in cash to Iran as 4 hostages released. 1981: As Ronald Reagan sworn into office, Iran released 52 hostages. [freeallthree.com]
The cash transfer, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, 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.
The cash flown to Iran consisted of euros, Swiss francs, and other currencies because U.S. law forbids transacting American dollars with Iran. While the Obama administration denied the cash transfer was done to secure the release of the four Americans, GOP lawmakers said it was tantamount to “ransom.”
“Paying ransom to kidnappers puts Americans even more at risk,” Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said in a 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 American hostages.”
The four released Americans are 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.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said their release was on an entirely separate track from the settlement payment and, in an interview Wednesday with Fox News, said any suggestion it was tied to ransom is “utterly false.”
“We just don’t pay ransom. … This was not ransom,” he said.
See related Fox News videos and full story here:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/03/lawmakers-ransom-to-iran-put-americans-at-risk.html
Read original Wall Street Journal article here:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sent-cash-to-iran-as-americans-were-freed-1470181874
Iran: Release ALL Americans Now! 