US Pays Iran

From the BBC:

"White House: Iran cash payment not ransom for hostages"

The White House has dismissed claims that the US paid a ransom to Iran in exchange for the release of five American prisoners.  The five prisoners were released in January in exchange for seven Iranians who were detained in the US for violating sanctions.  The exchange came as the US lifted international sanctions against Iran as part of the country's nuclear deal.  The US also airlifted $400m (£300.3m) worth of cash to Iran at the same time.  The Wall Street Journal reported that US officials sent an unmarked cargo plane loaded with Euros, Swiss, Francs and other currencies, suggesting that the payment may have been related to the release of five Americans, which included Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. But White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest denied the link, saying the payment settled a longstanding dispute between the two countries from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.  After the world's six major powers announced they would lift sanctions against Iran as a part of the implementation of the historic landmark deal, Tehran and Washington also agreed to settle a number of disputes between the two countries.  As Mr Earnest said in a press briefing on 19 January, the $400m (£300.3m) payment was "the result of a long-running claims process that had been at The Hague". The then-Iranian government had purchased $400m (£300.3m) in US military equipment before it was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.  The Obama administration had agreed to repay Tehran $1.7bn, which included the original payment as well as interest.   Since Iran's financial institutions were completely cut off from the global electronic banking system at the time of the payment, it had to be made in cash.  The sanctions also meant it was illegal to make the payment in US dollars.

^ It does sound very fishy to me. If there was nothing "wrong" with this cash shipment then why was it done so secretively? Why not just come out in the open and be honest instead of waiting for the story to be found and then go on the defensive? Obama's administration has been very pro-Iran so this kind of slick deal doesn't surprise me. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36968389