As much as I agree with you that was "our money" since Iran has cost us ten times that much defending ourselves in their "proxy wars" and other response actions...I heard it reported the other day that it actually was Iranian money, confiscated when their assets were seized decades ago.
Nevertheless....we should have kept it.
Some time back when I was talking to a friend and saying Obama gave Iran billions of dollars, she said "Well it was their money." I didn't know that, but like you I think we should NEVER have given it back.
The $1.6 billion in currency given Iran was U.S. taxpayers’ money.
There is an argument about the $150 billion, which was impounded Iranian money, but NOT about the pallets of currency.
I think that’s why President Trump usually talks more about the physical currency.
Which no doubt wound up, in part, in Obama’s and Kerry’s pockets. Kerry is scrambling now. Maybe he is begging them to let him PAY BACK THE BRIBE rather than be outed for the slimy criminal traitor he is.
Iran probably wants the money back WITH INTEREST. I can see that being the discussion Kerry was caught having yesterday in Paris, with the 5 Iranian officials and their retinues of bodyguards.
I read that the original money from Iran was $400 million. If any was given back to them (I disagree any should have been), it should have been $400 million.
I have heard this also. And I agree, we should have kept it. Or maybe zero should have just not done it???