The Iran-Contra scheme diverted Iranian arms payments to fund the Contras

Evidence

Even as the White House was tapping evangelical networks to drum up support for a military intervention in Nicaragua, some members of the administration were pursuing more clandestine avenues as well. In 1984, Iran had secretly requested weapons from the United States to use in its war with Iraq. Despite an arms embargo, Reagan was desperate to secure the release of seven American hostages held by Iranian terrorists in Lebanon. With Reagan’s support, the administration arranged for the shipment of more than 1500 missiles to Iran. Three hostages were released (but three more taken), and a portion of the payment for the arms sales was then diverted to support the Contras in Nicaragua. The NSC staff member responsible for this transaction was Oliver North. — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 267

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Contra funding via Iran arms sales defied Congress and drug law — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 290; Iran-Contra’s constitutional crime was executive use of nonappropriated funds. — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 623; Cold War logic led the US to fund Islamists even after Iran’s revolution — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 247 (+1 more)
• yield-rescued: below the book’s yield-target cutoff, included anyway for connecting to: Contra funding via Iran arms sales defied Congress and drug law — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 290; Iran-Contra’s constitutional crime was executive use of nonappropriated funds. — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 623; Cold War logic led the US to fund Islamists even after Iran’s revolution — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 247 (+1 more)