Mr Kirby added the USA had “concerns” that Iran may recant on its pledge to return the prisoners, which is why it waited to release the payment.
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Republicans had long charged the payment amounted to ransom, which would violate longstanding US policy not to pay ransom for hostages.
“Today, the State Department admitted what we’ve long suspected – that the president and his administration have been misleading us since January about whether he ransomed the freedom of the Americans unjustly imprisoned in Iran”, said House Speaker Paul RyanPaul RyanRepublicans slam 0M “ransom” payment to Iran 5 takeaways from Trump’s pick of Breitbart exec as campaign CEO Dem crashes House Republican’s interview MORE in a statement”. But he said the US withheld delivery of the cash as leverage until the USA citizens had left Iran.
“With concerns that Iran may… That was our top priority”, Kirby said.
Kirby said “it would have been foolish, imprudent, irresponsible” for the administration to have acted otherwise.
“If it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck”, Sen.
GOP campaigns sent out a barrage of press releases linking Democratic candidates to what they assert was a clear cash-for-prisoners swap. “The truth matters and the president owes the American people an explanation”.
“Decisions like these are putting our nation and our allies at risk”, added Sen.
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr blasted the White House following the State Department’s “admission”.
“He denied it was for the hostages, but it was”.
Considering this administration has lied to us before, namely Benghazi, why should we trust it when it says this was “just leverage”. What is new in the story is the timing of the payment, as first reported on Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal.
“Eight years of politicians like President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Senator Feingold have left Americans less safe, less secure and looking for stronger leadership”, the Republican Party of Wisconsin said. The former president, who turns 70 on Friday, said he will resign from the board, and the foundation will only accept contributions from US citizens and independent charities.
Kirby insisted the money was not a quid pro quo for the hostage release, explaining that Tehran ultimately would have received the money, separate from the prisoner release.
It was money the United States owed Iran from a failed arms deal that predated the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran that brought the current government into power, the White House said. The two sides have wrangled over that account and numerous other financial claims ever since.
“We were able to conclude multiple strands of diplomacy within a 24-hour period”, Mr Kirby told reporters.
The administration denies this cash shipment, which included Swiss Francs and other foreign currencies, was a ransom paid to Iran.
“We actually had diplomatic negotiations and conversations with Iran for the first time in several decades”, Obama said August 5, meaning “our ability to clear accounts on a number of different issues at the same time converged”.
“This wasn’t some nefarious deal”, he said.
The $400 million was the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement that US officials insist was a good deal for USA taxpayers.
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Republican leaders in Congress have said they are planning to hold hearings on the cash transfer in September.
