U.S. Held Back $400 Million Until Iran Freed Their American Prisoners

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Held Cash Until Iran Freed Prisoners

An Iranian cargo plane left Geneva with $400 million in cash after a flight with Americans aboard took off from Tehran in January

WASHINGTON—New details of the $400 million U.S. payment to Iran earlier this year depict a tightly scripted exchange specifically timed to the release of several American prisoners held in Iran.

The picture emerged from accounts of U.S. officials and others briefed on the operation: U.S. officials wouldn’t let Iranians take control of the money until a Swiss Air Force plane carrying three freed Americans departed from Tehran on Jan. 17. Once that happened, an Iranian cargo plane was allowed to bring the cash home from a Geneva airport that day.

President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials have said the payment didn’t amount to ransom, because the U.S. owed the money to Iran as part of a longstanding dispute linked to a failed arms deal from the 1970s. U.S. officials have said that the prisoner release and cash transfer took place through two separate diplomatic channels.

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More News On Reports That The U.S. Held Back $400 Million Until Iran Freed Their American Prisoners

US withheld cash until Iran released American prisoners: report -- The Hill
US held $400M payment to Iran until detainees were released, report says -- Fox News
$400 million payment to Iran was ransom for prisoners, accounts of transaction suggest -- Washington Times
'US officials delayed flight to Iran with $400m on board until American prisoners had been released, report claims - raising fresh 'ransom' allegations -- Daily Mail
Weeks After US Sent Iran $400M, Obama Admin Gave Tehran Another $1.3B -- Washington Free Beacon