According to the U.S. State Department, the $400 million cash payment sent to Iran’s government earlier this year was contingent upon the release of four American prisoners detained in the country. After the transfer was initially reported earlier this month, President Obama said there was “no ransom” paid for the release of the detainees, and the State Department said the money was used to partially settle an arms deal dating back to the late-’70s. Although American officials have said that the cash payment and the prisoner release negotiations happened through separate diplomatic channels, the timing of the actions reportedly raised concerns from the U.S. Department of Justice.
