State Department confirms $400m to Iran tied to US citizens’ release

State Department spokesman John Kirby admitted Thursday that the $400m cash shipment to Iran on Jan. 17 was tied to the release of four American citizens who’d been detained in the country. The US withheld the delivery until the US citizens had left Iran on the same day, he said This statement contradicts President Barack Obama’s denial of any connection. “We do not pay ransom for hostages,” Obama said at the time.