In 1985 and 1986,
Ronald Reagan sold arms to Iran, locked in a horrific war with Saddam Hussein’s
Iraq, for cash and the release of U.S. hostages. The sales to Iran violated
sanctions against Iran. But much of the money that came from the sales was
diverted to fund the Contras, right-wing rebels fighting the left-wing
Sandinista government of Nicaragua. That was in violation of laws against helping the
Contras.
The scandal began as an operation to free the seven American hostages being held in Lebanon by a group with Iranian ties connected to the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. It was
planned that Israel would ship weapons to Iran, and then the United States would resupply Israel and
receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to do everything
in their power to achieve the release of the U.S. hostages. Large modifications to the plan were
devised by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of
the National Security Council in late 1985, in which a portion of the proceeds from
the weapon sales was diverted to fund anti-Sandinista and anti-communist rebels,
or Contras, in Nicaragua.
All cases against President Reagan and his administration were dropped
at the time due to the evidence being “classified information” and later
pardoned by President George Bush. However it was common knowledge that Reagan was invovled and proved that the president is above the law.
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