Senator Dianne Feinstein on the Obama Iran Policy

Diplomat Jim Patterson at CNN studios, Atlanta. 

Jim Patterson note: The U.S. Treasury makes a transaction this large to Iran without knowledge of the State Department who, coincidentally, is involved in "separate diplomatic negotiations" with Iran for release of 4 Iranian-American hostages. If this is a case of two separate agencies working on "separate diplomatic negotiations," it indicates how the government acts without complete information on an international issue as sensitive as Iran is.

With economic sanctions gone with the Iran nuclear deal and now with this huge 2016 payment, Iran has vast financial resources to engage in anti-American aggressions in the Middle East and beyond which allows Tehran to further destabilize the region and engage in attacks in Allepo with its allies Russia and Syria. This is dangerous policy that complicates diplomacy in the region and endangers countries such as Jordan, Egypt and Israel. Further, Iranian provocations over 2016 indicate no change in its militant policies toward the United States. The secretive Obama/Kerry/Rice Iran policy has not served American diplomatic interests. 

Dear Mr. Patterson: Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S.-Iranian relations.  I appreciate the time you took to write, and I welcome the opportunity to respond. As you mention, the United States delivered a cash payment of $400 million to Iran in January 2016.  This payment represented the first installment in a now complete $1.7 billion settlement regarding a cancelled fighter jet deal between the pre-revolutionary Iranian government and the United States.  The jets were never delivered because of the 1979 Iranian revolution.  The Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal that was established to resolve litigation surrounding this cancelled contract has been ongoing since 1981.   I understand you believe that the $400 million was paid as a ransom for the release of four American detainees held by Iran.  As you may know, the United States has a long-standing policy of not paying ransoms for American hostages. I also understand you are concerned about the fact that foreign cash was used to make the payment.  According to the White House, the payment was made in cash because U.S. banks are not permitted to facilitate electronic transfers with Iranian banks.  In addition, foreign currency was required because Federal law prohibits the use of U.S. dollars in financial transactions with Iran.   On January 16, 2016, Iran released four Iranian-Americans who had been imprisoned for several years, including Jason Rezaian, an American journalist, and Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine.  According to the State Department, the settlement and the prisoner release were the results of separate diplomatic negotiations. Please know that I have carefully noted your thoughts on this matter, and I will keep your views in mind should legislation related to U.S.-Iranian relations come before me in the Senate.  Once again, thank you for writing.  I hope you will continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you.  If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-3841 or visit my website at www.feinstein.senate.gov.  Best regards. Sincerely yours,   Dianne Feinstein          United States Senator Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the nation are available at my website,feinstein.senate.gov. And please visit my YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for more ways to communicate with me.