Explain.
America took a tough line on Iran in public during the 1980s, but was selling arms to them in secret. That action harmed America’s reputation internationally. European nations that were trading with Iran, denounced America for hypocrisy, because America was telling them to cut off their trade with Iran. Bush41 and Oliver North were the key players in Iran-Contra.
We were also helping Iraq, with the hope that both nations would bleed each other dry.....and the Contras should have been helped.