In 1985, the head of the National Security Council, Robert ‘Bud’ McFarlane sold weapons (antitank and antiaircraft missiles) to Iran in the hope that the Shiite government in Tehran would help secure the release of American hostages held in Lebanon. This arms sale, and those that followed, was in violation of the Reagan administration’s avowed policy towards terrorist organizations and Iran. The administration had made clear that it would not aid Iran in its war against Iraq. It was subsequently revealed that a portion of the $48 million dollar amount charged to Iran was diverted by the National Security Council and given to the Contras, the U.S.-backed rebels in Nicaragua. The Contras were in a pitched battle against the Marxist-oriented Sandinista government. However, the money…

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Citation: Richert, Lucas Paul. "'Iran-Contra' arms revelations". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 October 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=3845, accessed 26 November 2024.]