Fact Check: Did Obama Pay Iran $3.7 Million in 2016?
What We Know
The claim that President Obama paid Iran $3.7 million in 2016 is misleading. The Obama administration did make significant cash payments to Iran, totaling $1.7 billion, but these payments were part of a settlement related to a long-standing dispute over military equipment and were not specifically $3.7 million. The payments were made in cash due to the lack of a banking relationship between the U.S. and Iran, as emphasized by various officials, including President Obama himself, who stated that "we couldn’t send them a check and we could not wire the money" (source-1).
In fact, the payments included $400 million that was initially believed to be a ransom for American hostages, but the administration insisted that the payments were separate from the hostage negotiations (source-2).
Analysis
The claim of a $3.7 million payment appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the actual financial dealings between the Obama administration and Iran. The total cash payment was $1.7 billion, which included a $400 million initial payment and additional payments that were part of a settlement agreement (source-2).
Moreover, the assertion that the Obama administration paid Iran $3.7 million is not supported by credible evidence. The payments made in 2016 were larger and were characterized by the administration as necessary due to the sanctions in place that prevented traditional banking methods (source-1).
The reliability of the sources discussing these payments is generally high, as they include official statements from government officials and reputable news outlets. However, some sources may have political biases, particularly those that focus on criticizing the Obama administration's policies, which could influence their portrayal of the events.
Conclusion
The claim that Obama paid Iran $3.7 million in 2016 is False. The actual payments made by the Obama administration to Iran were significantly higher, totaling $1.7 billion, and were part of a complex settlement rather than a straightforward payment of $3.7 million. The misrepresentation of the payment amount likely stems from confusion regarding the details of the financial transactions and their context.
Sources
- 5 Times the Obama Admin Insisted Cash Was the Only Way to Pay Iran
- Subcommittee Investigates Dangers of Ransom Payments to Iran
- Senator Lankford Demands Answers From President Obama on Iran Cash Payments
- Economic policy of the Barack Obama administration
- Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - Wikipedia
- How To Learn Guitar: A 12-Step Guide For Beginners
- Did Obama Admin Give Wuhan Laboratory a $3.7 Million Grant?
- Investigating the Obama administration's $400 million payment to Iran
