The United States has acknowledged that it waited for Iran to release American prisoners before delivering US$400 million in cash that it owed the country, but again insisted the payment was not ransom.

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US sought ’leverage’ with $400 mn payment to Iran

August 19, 2016 - 11:00

The United States has acknowledged that it waited for Iran to release American prisoners before delivering US$400 million in cash that it owed the country, but again insisted the payment was not ransom.

WASHINGTON — The United States has acknowledged that it waited for Iran to release American prisoners before delivering US$400 million in cash that it owed the country, but again insisted the payment was not ransom.

"With concerns that Iran may renege on the prisoner release... we of course sought to retain maximum leverage until after American citizens were released," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.

"That was our top priority," he said.

In January, five American prisoners were released as Washington granted clemency to seven Iranians and withdrew arrest warrants for 14 others.

Immediately thereafter, the United States helped airlift $400 million worth of Swiss francs and euros to Iran.

The US government insists that money was to settle an old debt stemming from a military purchase by Iran.

The money was delivered on January 17, just one day after a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers took effect.

"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," Kirby said.

"It’s already publicly known that we returned to Iran its $400 million in that same time period as part of the Hague settlement agreement," he said.

In early August, the State Department had said the prisoner release and delivery of money were completely separate, although Kirby acknowledged on Thursday that the two were in fact related.

The ordeal has set off a tidal wave of condemnation from Republicans, who have questioned the timing of the two events and said the government paid ransom for the prisoner release. — AFP

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