Trump Blames Obama as U.S. Launches ‘Defensive Strikes’ Against Iran

Trump’s remarks also revived debate over one of the Obama administration’s most controversial foreign policy decisions: the 2016 transfer of $1.7 billion in cash and foreign currency to Iran following the implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement.

The first installment, totaling $400 million, was transferred to Tehran on Jan. 17, 2016, the same day Iran released four American prisoners. Additional payments totaling $1.3 billion followed in subsequent weeks.

Obama officials maintained the payment stemmed from a decades-old legal settlement involving Iranian funds frozen after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.