“We do not pay ransom for hostages,” Obama said, citing longstanding U.S. policy not to pay them for fear of encouraging abductions. We don’t have a banking relationship with Iran which is part of the pressure we applied on them.”The payment has revived allegations from critics of the Iran nuclear deal. “The only bit of news is that we paid cash,” he said. WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama expressed surprise Thursday at criticism of his administration’s $400 million cash payment to Iran to settle a longstanding legal claim, adamantly rejecting claims that it was a ransom paid for the release of four Americans held in Iran. Obama echoed denials of a ransom that have been repeatedly been offered by other administration officials including Secretary of State John Kerry.

Source: Washington Post August 04, 2016 16:18 UTC