Iran Ransom Risks More American Lives

In January, our country welcomed home four Americans who had been imprisoned in Iran. At the time, the Obama administration touted its nuclear deal with Iran as a diplomatic victory which opened the door for the prisoners’ release.

Eight months later, we are getting a much different picture of the situation.

As the Wall Street Journal reported on August 3, the Obama administration airlifted $400 million in cash to Iran the same day the four Americans were released. The payment contained multiple currencies and was delivered in the dark of night on an unmarked cargo plane. The report also notes, “Iranian press reports have quoted senior Iranian defense officials describing the cash as a ransom payment.”

One year ago, when the administration was in the midst of negotiating its deal with Iran, I publicly stated my concerns about how lifting economic sanctions on Iran would allow global financial resources to flow into a country still included on our list of state sponsors of terrorism. The administration’s decision to directly provide the Iranian government with a shipment of $400 million in cash, which is nearly impossible to trace, is unconscionable.

The White House claims the $400 million payment was not related to the release of the hostages but rather was making good on a separate deal to repay Iran for a 1979 settlement over military equipment. Even if this account were true, which seems unlikely given the administration’s track record of misleading the American people throughout its negotiations with Iran, the timing of the payment alone is enough to embolden our enemies.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the outcry over this payout is coming from “those who are flailing in an attempt to justify their continued opposition to the [Iran] deal.” However, in the same press conference, Earnest admitted, “We know that Iran supports terrorism. We know that Iran supports Hezbollah and the Assad regime. And it certainly is possible that some of the money that Iran has is being used for those purposes too.”

As hard as the White House tries to defend these actions, it is clearer than ever the administration will do anything to protect its bad Iran deal, including paying ransom to a state sponsor of terrorism.

This situation sets a dangerous precedent. Ransom payments incentivize our enemies to take U.S. hostages. More American lives are now at risk with the administration choosing to pay off and appease our enemies rather than standing against them.

We also know Iran funnels significant resources to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. This $400 million payment could likely come back to the U.S. and our allies in the form of new weapons and bolstered terrorist activities.

The Obama administration’s foreign policy is not working, evidenced by mounting aggressions by countries such as Iran, Russia, and North Korea, as well as the rise of ISIS. We must show hostile regimes we will not be manipulated and reassert American leadership in our world.