Kirby: The U.S. Delayed Payment to Iran Until the Release of Prisoners

One day after the Wall Street Journal reported on the payment of $400 million to Iran and the release of Iranian-American citizens, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated on Thursday that although negotiations regarding compensation to Iran were conducted separately, the payment was not made until the prisoners were released. According to Reuters, Kirby said, 'The payment of $400 million was not made until the prisoners were freed.' The State Department spokesperson added, 'We used this opportunity as a maximum pressure leverage for the release of our citizens and their exit.' This is the first time the U.S. government has referred to the payment of this $400 million as leverage for the release of prisoners. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing American officials and informed sources, new details about the release of Iranian-American prisoners. According to this report, on January 17, the U.S. government did not allow an Iranian plane carrying $400 million to depart from Geneva until a Swiss Air plane carrying three American prisoners took off from Tehran airport. Previously, Republicans had accused the Obama administration of paying Iran for the release of prisoners. Meanwhile, Barack Obama and John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, emphasized that this money was part of a debt and compensation owed by the U.S. Obama stated that following a ruling by the International Court of Justice regarding Iran's frozen assets, lawyers and legal advisors recommended that this money be paid, otherwise, in the future, billions of dollars would need to be paid to Iran as compensation. Obama mentioned that the U.S. did not pay Iran for the release of hostages, and the issue of this $400 million payment was announced in January. The Wall Street Journal reported on August 4 that the Obama administration sent an equivalent of $400 million in cash to Tehran by plane simultaneously with the release of Iranian-American prisoners from Iranian prisons. This money was delivered to Iran in the form of euros, Swiss francs, and other currencies. Meanwhile, this American newspaper published new details on Wednesday. According to this report, on January 17, an Iran Air plane loaded $400 million in euros, Swiss francs, and other currencies at Geneva airport for a flight to Switzerland. Other informed sources told the newspaper that when the plane carrying these three Iranian-American prisoners was allowed to take off from Tehran, then the Iranians were granted access to this $400 million. Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency reported on June 12 that the plane carrying $400 million and the plane carrying the prisoners took off simultaneously from Tehran and Geneva. In this context, 'Until the prisoners left Tehran, the U.S. did not send the $400 million to Iran.' Two American senators: The Obama administration should explain the details of the $400 million payment to Iran.