Republicans Cry Foul As New Details Emerge About Payment To Iran (TWEETS, VIDEO)

Republican leaders have been unloading some fresh criticism on the Obama Administration over the recent Iran payment. Their suspicions regarding the $400 million in cash given to Iran were renewed after new details surfaced Thursday.

During a news conference, U.S. State Department Spokesman John Kirby stated:

“We were able to conclude multiple strands of diplomacy within a 24-hour period, including implementation of the nuclear deal, the prisoner talks and a settlement of an outstanding Hague tribunal claim.”

“With concerns that Iran may renege on the prisoner release, given unnecessary delays regarding persons in Iran who could not be located, as well as -to be honest- mutual mistrust between Iran and the United States we, of course, sought to retain maximum leverage until after American citizens were released. That was our top priority.”

The release of five American prisoners took place right before the U.S. sent the payment. The timing of the two events raised eyebrows. Critics are pointing to Kirby’s statements as an admission that the Iran payment was a bargaining chip.

Republicans have used the ordeal as a chance to go on the offensive.

Iran Payment Or Iran Ransom?

During an interview with Fox News, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) said:

“It was ransom. We now know it was ransom. And on top of that, it put more American lives at risk, and we’ve emboldened Iran. We’ve encouraged them, frankly, to take more hostages.”

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took a few shots during his speech in Charlotte, North Carolina:

“He denied it was for the hostages, but it was. He said we don’t pay ransom, but he did. He lied about the hostages, openly and blatantly.” 

House Speaker Paul Ryan even weighed in, sharing this tweet:

As of yet, the State Department and President Obama haven’t changed their position. They still maintain that the payment was the right move and that the timing was prudent. During an interview with Joe Scarborough, John Kirby doubled down:

“Look. There isn’t a lot of trust with Iran. So it would have been foolish and imprudent, in our view, to go ahead and settle the cash payment of the principal when we didn’t have our Americans back.”

For now, at least, it seems the Administration is unwilling to shift their stance, in spite of the mounting wave of criticism coming their way.

You can watch part of that State Department news conference here:

https://youtu.be/dNdGhijqAoc

Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.