“We of course sought to retain maximum leverage until after American citizens were released,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. | AFP/Getty
By Louis Nelson
Published: 08/18/16 – 05:24 PM EDT
Updated: 08/18/16 – 08:04 PM EDT
- ‘He lied about the hostages – openly and blatantly – just like he lied about Obamacare,’ Trump says.
Republicans are claiming vindication after the State Department confirmed on Thursday that the United States conditioned the release of a $400 million cash payment to Iran on the departure of American prisoners from Tehran.