Trump Blames Obama as U.S. Launches ‘Defensive Strikes’ Against Iran

The first installment, totaling $400 million, was transferred to Tehran on Jan. 17, 2016, the same day Iran released four American prisoners. Additional payments totaling $1.3 billion followed in subsequent weeks.

Obama officials maintained the payment stemmed from a decades-old legal settlement involving Iranian funds frozen after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

However, critics argued the timing effectively amounted to ransom payments that incentivized hostage-taking by the Iranian regime.