Iran
America wanted to secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon by placing moderates in Iran. During the scandal, seven American hostages were released. When, the first three hostages were released. They were immediately replaced with three other hostages. This was called by Former Secretary of State, George Schultz "a hostage bazaar."
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"The Reagan administration sold arms to Iran, a country desperate for material during its lengthy war with Iraq; in exchange for the arms, Iran was to use its influence to help gain the release of Americans held hostage in Lebanon..."
-Washington Post
Albert Hakim negotiated with Iranian representatives to secure the release of several hostages, as one describes him.
''I would be in my fifth year of captivity had it not been for his extraordinary efforts in negotiating with the Iranian representatives. Other American negotiators had given up, but Mr. Hakim continued.'' |
"You're the only one who at some stage of this matter was not an officer or former officer of the United States government. Indeed, you were brought into the situation you find yourself in by the United States government.''
-Judge Gessel (talking about Hakim)
During the Iran-Iraq war, Iran needed weapons, and the Reagan Administration wanted hostages freed, but trade was forbidden by the United States Congress, because Iran had terrorists in its country. The Reagan Administration traded the hostages for arms.
This a TOW, an anti-tank missile.
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"List of arms supplied to Iran: |
"The President approved the plan to allow Israel to sell approximately 100 American-made TOW antitank missiles to Iran, seeing it as a chance to improve relations with Iran and to gain the release of hostages. Israel would send Iran some of their American-made TOW missiles. In exchange, the Iranians would release some, if not all, of the American hostages that they held. The U.S. would also send Israel replacement TOW missiles so that its arsenal would not be depleted." |
"In August 1986, Hakim...worked out a nine-point plan that compromised both his and the Iranians’ interests. The resulting agreement was that the U.S. would send Iran 1,500 TOWs in exchange for the release of “1 ½ hostages (1 definitely and the 2nd with all effective possible effort).” Iran also offered to pay the U.S. $3.6 million in addition to releasing the hostages which meant more funds could be diverted to the Contras...of the $3.6 million Iran paid to the Enterprise, $2 million of this was given to the CIA who supplied the weapons, and the remaining $1.6 million was diverted to the Contras." |