Obama Admin Accused of Misleading Congress on Cash Release to Iran

The Obama administration faces accusations it has been misleading Congress about the amount and destination of sanctions relief being provided to Iran as part of last summer’s nuclear agreement, according to lawmakers and congressional sources who expressed anger at the administration over a range of contradictory facts being offered about the payouts.

Secretary of State John Kerry came under scrutiny last week after saying in a statement that Iran has received only about $3 billion in sanctions relief to date—a figure far smaller than the $100 billion estimate administration officials had previously said Iran would receive under the deal. It also contradicts statements from top Iranian officials that they had regained control of $100 billion in foreign reserves unfrozen under the deal.

The statement came amid congressional allegations, detailed by the Washington Free Beacon, that Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javid Zarif are engaged in a campaign to facilitate even more sanctions relief than Iran is entitled to under the deal. Congressional sources suggested that Kerry’s statements about the amount and nature of this money might be part of that campaign.

The issue has frustrated lawmakers who remain concerned that Iran will use this newly available money to fund its global terrorism operations.

Attempts by congressional offices to clarify the source of Kerry’s claim have gone unmet by the State Department..

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