By delivering the payment on the same day as the prisoner release, Iranian  officials could claim that they got the money as part of a ransom deal. But the truth  is that the Iranians could have claimed that no matter when the cash was  delivered. If the Obama administration had forked over $400 million six months  later, those ...
Oct 4, 2016 ... In reality, the Iranians could have made inflated claims about the payment no  matter when the cash was delivered. If the Obama administration had forked over  $400 million six months later, those same Iranian defense officials could have  lied and said it was part of the prisoner release deal. This lie isn't ...
Aug 4, 2016 ... Washington (CNN) The Obama administration secretly arranged a plane delivery  of $400 million in cash on the same day Iran released four American prisoners  and ... In addition, they said the cash delivery amounted to a ransom payment  that violates long-standing US practice not to pay for hostages.
Aug 18, 2016 ... The State Department conceded for the first time on Thursday that it delayed  making a $400 million payment to Iran for several hours in January “to ... For  months the Obama administration had maintained that the payment was part of a  settlement over an old dispute and did not amount to a “ransom” for the ...
Sep 6, 2016 ... According to Treasury officials, the U.S. did not make the cash payments directly  to Iran, though the department would not identify international intermediaries.  Republicans have charged that the initial $400 million was nothing more than a “ ransom” payment as it coincided with the release of the prisoners, ...
The Obama administration gave Iran "$400 million in ransom payment cash."