Fact Check: in 2016 did Obama pay Oran $3.7 million dollars

Fact Check: "In 2016, did Obama pay Iran $3.7 million dollars?"

What We Know

The claim that the Obama administration paid Iran $3.7 million in 2016 is inaccurate. The administration did make a significant cash payment to Iran, but the total amount was $1.7 billion, not $3.7 million. This payment was part of a settlement related to a long-standing financial dispute, and it was made in cash due to the lack of a banking relationship between the U.S. and Iran at that time (source-1, source-2).

In addition to the $1.7 billion payment, there were smaller payments made to Iran in previous years, including approximately $848,000 in July 2015 and about $9 million in April 2016 for specific claims (source-1). However, these amounts do not add up to the $3.7 million figure mentioned in the claim.

Analysis

The assertion that Obama paid Iran $3.7 million appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the actual payments made during his administration. The most notable payment was the $1.7 billion, which was publicly scrutinized and characterized by some critics as a ransom payment for American hostages (source-2).

Critics of the administration have pointed out that the payment was made in cash due to the sanctions in place, which restricted financial transactions with Iran. However, the administration has maintained that the payment was separate from any hostage negotiations and was necessary to settle a financial dispute (source-1).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including official government statements and reports from reputable news organizations. However, the framing of the payment as a ransom has been a point of contention, particularly among political opponents of the Obama administration (source-4).

Conclusion

The claim that the Obama administration paid Iran $3.7 million in 2016 is False. The actual payment made was $1.7 billion, which was part of a settlement and not a direct payment of $3.7 million. The confusion may arise from the various payments made to Iran over the years, but none of these payments total the amount claimed.

Sources

1. 5 Times the Obama Admin Insisted Cash Was the Only Way to Pay Iran
2. Subcommittee Investigates Dangers of Ransom Payments to Iran
3. Senator Lankford Demands Answers From President Obama on Iran Cash Payments
4. U.S. Concedes $400 Million Payment to Iran Was Delayed
5. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - Wikipedia
6. Six charts that show how hard US sanctions have hit Iran
7. 在英语中，按照国际规范，中国人名如何书写？ - 知乎
8. Did Obama Admin Give Wuhan Laboratory a $3.7 Million Grant?