The United States administration paid back Iran $1.7 billion to settle a lawsuit dating back to 1981. Following the deal, critics say that the U.S. is funding Iran's destructive nuclear regime which seriously threatens global security.
Under Obama's rule, the U.S. will settle a legal lawsuit with Iran that has long been pending at the Hague Tribunal since the Islamic revolution. As per Business Standard, State Secretary John Kerry said that the U.S. government will repay $400 million debt and $1.3 billion interest to Iran.
Kerry stated that Iran previously used the $400 million trust fund to purchase military equipment from the U.S. but were never delivered ever since diplomacy relations with Iran were broken. U.S. cut ties with Iran when the Islamic revolution started and terrorists took hostages in the American embassy.
President Barack Obama announced in a televised message from the White House that the settlement was much less than what Iran wanted and that the U.S. did not benefit from it. A senior government official told reporters, "Clearly, it's in the U.S. interest to resolve these (claims) in ways that reduce our risk. And we believe that this is a very positive settlement for us."
Adam Szubin, the Treasury Department's acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said that Iran's nuclear efforts gravely threaten regional and global security. The Washington Post reported that critics say the U.S. is funding a destructive nuclear command initiated by Iran. However, government officials denied the allegation, saying that there would be bigger consequences to U.S. citizens if the lawsuit was not settled with Iran.
Critics added that the settlement shows Obama's weakness and surrender to Iran. A day after the case was settled, four American prisoners and a reporter named Jason Rezaian were freed in exchange for seven Iranian detainees in the U.S. The Obama government also posed new sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile testing. These are different from previously lifted international sanctions on Iran's nuclear program.
The Times of India reported that the U.S will try to resolve more pending claims with Iran. Kerry noted that U.S. claims against Iran amounting to $2.5 billion have already been settled.
Obama declared that the U.S. will continue to pursue diplomacy with Iran, one of its longtime adversaries. The president said that the settlement with Iran shows that conflicts can be resolved with patience, courage, and wisdom.
