( REUTERS TV / REUTERS )WASHINGTON—The Obama administration said Thursday that a $400 million cash payment to Iran seven months ago was contingent on the release of a group of American prisoners. “We had concerns that Iran may renege on the prisoner release,” Kirby said, citing delays and mutual mistrust between countries that severed diplomatic relations 36 years ago. “Reports of link between prisoner release & payment to Iran are completely false,” Kirby tweeted at the time. Some Iranian officials immediately linked the payment to the release of four Americans, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who had been held in Iranian prisons. If a cash payment is contingent on a hostage release, it’s a ransom.

Source: thestar August 18, 2016 22:53 UTC