Trump Accuses Obama of 'Financing Iranian Terrorism'

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in the United States, has accused Barack Obama, the President of the United States, of 'financing Iranian terrorism.' Mr. Trump shared a report from the Wall Street Journal on his official Facebook page about the payment of $400 million in cash to Iran by the U.S. government, stating: 'Obama finances Iranian terrorism after being extorted by an Ayatollah.' The Republican presidential candidate did not specify who he meant by 'Ayatollah.' The French news agency also published a statement from Mr. Trump criticizing the 'air transport of terror money,' stating that the $400 million transferred to Iran 'will undoubtedly find its way into the hands of terrorists.' Donald Trump had previously criticized Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival, saying that 'our incompetent [former] Secretary of State was the one who initiated negotiations to give $400 million in cash to Iran. A scandal.' Mr. Trump's severe attacks and those of other Republicans against Barack Obama's administration continue while the White House and the U.S. State Department deny the accusation of 'paying ransom' to Iran for the release of American prisoners held in Iran. The U.S. government claims that Republicans are using this issue as a new pretext to oppose the nuclear deal with Iran. Nevertheless, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, emphasized that the U.S. is 'aware of Iran's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and the government of Bashar al-Assad' and 'it is certainly possible that part of this money could be used for that support.' However, Mr. Earnest stated: 'The majority of this money has been used to bolster the weaknesses of the Iranian economy, and that is something we anticipated.' The Wall Street Journal reported that the Obama administration, at the time of the nuclear agreement with Iran and the release of American citizens in that country, sent an equivalent of $400 million in cash to Iran by plane. According to the newspaper, this $400 million is part of a $1.7 billion payment made as principal and late fees for a suspended arms purchase agreement between Iran and the U.S. following the Islamic Revolution. Iran and the U.S. implemented a prisoner exchange program in January 2016. Under this program, Iran released five American prisoners, four of whom also held Iranian citizenship, and in return, the U.S. transferred seven Iranian prisoners in this country back to Iran. The Wall Street Journal now reports that the U.S. sent the equivalent of $400 million in other currencies in wooden pallets via an unknown cargo plane to Iran, and the Islamic Republic did not release the imprisoned American citizens until it was assured of the loading of the money onto the plane.