Obama administration says $400 mil to Iran was contingent on release of prisoners

"....the president owes the American people an explanation,”

We've gotten it. But that won't satisfy the Republicans. Which is pretty dumb. 'Cause this goes back to 1979, and all the dirty not so secrete dealings between St. Ronnie and the Islamic Republic.

@Black Sabbath - You are correct. This has been going on to 79...and much longer (since the UK and US put the Shah into power). A lot of dirty deeds occurred in this part of the world. However, President Obama's initial explanation of this was not true. Watching the video of John Kirby looking down when answering this question. He knows they have been caught in a big lie. I think in certain cases people need to cast aside partisanship and admit when our leaders make mistakes.

I am not a Republican - perhaps you consider me dumb - but it does not satisfy me.

It was Iran's money, and it would have had to be returned at some point soon due to the complex package of negotiations dismanteling Iran's nuclear program regardless. Getting the prisoners released was just a bonus. Smart move on both sides - Iran likely didn't want to hold them anyway and was looking for some excuse to remove this thorn.

Yes. It was ransom.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-18/state-department-admits-obama-lied-400-million-payment-iran-was-contingent-prisoner-

Black Sabbath - you know nothing of me. So you think the government should be called to the table only when it is one political party doing this? I guess anyone that does not fully agree with you cannot be independent or of your same political party or point of view.

How about the Democrats that opposed the Iran deal, such as Chuck Shumer as reported by CNN - how would you classify them? Are they not really Democrats?

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/11/politics/obama-congress-democrats-iran-nuclear-deal/

Yes I would like to know what happened with the 400,000,000 dollars and how this transpired.

The administration lied (as have previous administrations....Bush getting us into Iraq, etc.). Can we not at least expect more from elected officials to who our taxes go to fund the government and pay their salaries?

you know nothing of me

Not true. You've consistently presented yourself as a fair-minded, neutral person, who somehow finds Democrats just as at fault as Republicans. That is suspicious.

What tipped you off was your willingness to raise an issue, and yet not stick around to argue it through.

That makes you a concern troll.

Bye bye.

Mr. Sabbath - I would just like a further explanation as to why the Administration did not come clean about the 400Million in the beginning. Again you resort to name calling "Concern troll"? So you think that anyone that questions both political parties is suspicious? Is that what this about? This is a sad state of affairs.

Ok - please elaborate - why is it suspicious to be skeptical of both parties? Should Americans blindly follow one political party?

I grew up in a family where one parent was a Democrat..the other a Republican - they are still married after 65 years - made for some interesting conversation around the dinner table and during holidays. all of their offspring ended up being Independents. My folks disagree on many issues but both are a bit curious about what has been going on with Iran and both were against the Iraq war.

Where possible I am more than willing to stick around and argue an issue, as with this one.

What fascinates me is there are several issues we agree on but you need to resort to name calling. Yes I would like a further explanation about what really happened with this money. To me the video of John Kirby during the press conference speaks volumes.

A deal like this is going to be whatever you want it to be. Were they all part of one big package? Probably. That's how the world works. Maybe they talked about them separately or together, who knows and who cares. It's hard to call it a random when you're paying with the kidnapper's own money. Both sides are probably happy with the outcome.

The GOP will frame it in a way that is advantageous to them. The initial reaction seems to be that Obama paid a ransom and Iran will use the $400 million to fund terrorism. It will be on the front pages for a few days and the far right nutters will bring it up on occasion, but I don't think they talk in ways that is going to change someone's vote from Democrat to Republican. Probably a lot of fear, anger, and misrepresentation, then it will be thrown onto the pile of dozens of other ways Clinton will bring about an end to America.

Fair enough. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

Here's my reply:

It is not an issue of blindly following a political party. It is an issue of doing what is best for our country.

Donald Trump simply cannot be President. You either get that, or you don't. If you don't, nothing I can or will say will persuade you. You need only to look into yourself for the answer.

All else is commentary. It really doesn't matter at this point, because either Trump or Clinton will be President. Everything from the party conventions to Nov. 4th is skewed through that lense.

So, you have a choice: work to save our country from Donald J. Trump, a man intellectually and temperamentally entirely unfit for the office. And help elect Clinton, who, the worse, absolute worse you can say about her is she is business as usual.

Obama categorically stated that the 400 mil was not a ransom but that is what it was ! Obama the liar or the stupid? Both?

That money is Iranian money and was being hijacked by the US. But now, you see some Americans saying they paid (implying it's American taxpayers' money) the Iranians money for the prisoners.....

Mr. Sabbath

First of all I agree with you Mr. Trump cannot be President. On that we agree 100%.

Also you are right - after November 4th we will have a new President.

However, regardless of the election I would still like a further explanation on what went down with Iran. It does not feel right. In my opinion (and my opinion only) this is not an election issue as it does not involve Ms. Clinton. John Kerry is now Secretary of State and this was done under the President's and Mr. Kerry's watch.

President Obama stated, "“This wasn’t some nefarious deal,”. Perhaps not....however the way this was carried out makes it appear that it is and it is right for people to question the mechanism in getting this done and way all the opaqueness....just as Chuck Schumer questioned the Iran deal in 2015.

In my opinion (and my opinion only) this is not an election issue as it does not involve Ms. Clinton.

Not buying it. It is an election issue. And I think you know it.

@BlackSabbath - again as I said In my opinion this is not an election issue. This is the way I see it personally. As to how others see it....that is up to them

Of course it was a nefarious deal! Who sends 400 mill in foreign currency to Iran ?

As an individual, If I try to get my own money (cash) in the UK from my bank over $2000, I get the third degree! In Japan,change money into yen over 10 man and fill in your address, tel no etc Bring in more than a million yen into Japan and it has to be declared and taxed!

400 million US dollars......

I'd say the US played it very cleverly. Gave back Iran's own money and got some extras thrown in for doing so!

Sounds like as good a deal as you could hope for. Basically got the prisoners for free seeing as they had to pay the money no matter what. Trump always crows about his supposed negotiation skills, but there is no chance he would have gotten such a sweet deal. More Repub whingeing and weeping to come for sure!

So Obama has called a news conference and lied to the American people again. Unless you still believe in shovel ready jobs or that you can keep your doctor this is just business as usual for the Choom Gang's top dog.

Oh my god... He successfully got American prisoners returned while at the same time returning money stolen from Iran after forcing a brutal dictator upon them. What is he thinking?!

This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

If the US had given the money without first demanding the prisoners be released, opponents would be up in arms asking why they didn't place that condition on the returning of the money.

The US placed that condition, so now the opposition are screaming that it was a bribe.

Can't win either way, so they made the best decision overall - ensure their prisoners were released. I bet you don't hear them complaining.

Who sends 400 mill in foreign currency to Iran ?

I don't expect that certain people will pay attention to reality, but here it is anyway: Iranian banks are still under sanctions and will remain so while steps that their nuclear program is truly being dismantled are verified. This fact prohibited a bank wire transfer. The money was not in US currency precisely due to the reason stated above: No US currency may legally be transferred to Iran at this time.

Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

Methinks our Independent Republicans doth complain to much.

Maybe they would have preferred to leave their fellow Americans to rot in an Iranian gaol....

This admin. is so full of ****! You just can't make this stuff up. I will be so happy when this crooked criminals are out of office in January. Pathetic! Now I know and understand why are enemies think that this president is a joke and personally, I don't blame them for pushing him around, I would too, if I were in that position.

Sounds like what it is, the Administration being careful that Iran, run by a party nearly as badly-organized and untrustworthy as the US Republican Party, to keep is word by deed.

But no action would ever meet with the approval of today's Republican or "conservative" because, to them, ANY lie or ugliness is acceptable, even praiseworthy as "tough" and "clever." They never show any positive side, on any issue, because that would show "weakness"."

Being "conservative" today is to be beyond the possibility of error, always on the side of the angels, and yet always somehow unfairly cheated of your due. Hatred is what they offer those that disagree with them to the slightest degree, and flattery is the only coin they accept among themselves.

More blatant hypocrisy from the "progressives".

So Trump was right and Iran got a plane-ful of cash. At least this time Kerry negotiated somewhat and got something in return. If Hillary can get her health back I am sure she will chime in about the "Iranian Cash" offer soon.

Pretty clear and straightforward. Of course partisan critics purposely obtuse in seeing lies where none exist. More of the same manufactured outrage. Dumb.

Oh my god... He successfully got American prisoners returned while at the same time returning money stolen from Iran after forcing a brutal dictator upon them. What is he thinking?!

Word is the Mullahs have since taken more American's hostage. So Obama has just succeeded in proving that paying ransom for hostages is a fools errand. He also got more American citizens locked up in a grimy jail somewhere in Tehran. Nice work Mr. President!

Giving Iran their own money is a ransom? Ridiculous.

If I take $10 from you, then I refuse to give it back until you do something for me, I'm an a$$hole.