Iran-Contra Affair



Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra Affair and Reagan Administration Scandal

The Iran-Contra scandal, also known as Irangate, is a political event occurred between 1985 and 1986, in which the government of the United States, under the administration of President Ronald Reagan, government sold arms to Iran when it was immersed in the Iran-Iraq War and financed the movement known as " Contra "Nicaraguan (armed movement created and funded by the United States to attack the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, during the period known as the Nicaraguan Revolution). Both operations, arms sales and Contra funding, were banned by the U.S. Senate. The sale of arms to Iran produced more than $ 47 million, money that was managed by Oliver North through a network of bank accounts in Switzerland and was used mainly to finance the attack on the government of Nicaragua and support the Contras. Providing weapons to Iran was very necessary. Ghorbanifar has shown particular interest in the anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles made in America. Because such weapons to Israel also needed, Perez Makferleynom contacted to arrange the completion of the Israeli arsenal. The Israeli prime minister demanded that the transaction was approved by one of the top U.S. Americans, for their part, wanted to prove that their missiles will fall into the hands of really powerful group, which offered secure the release of some of the hostages held by the "Hezbollah" in Lebanon. Oversee financial flows at all stages of the transaction Israelis invited billionaire Saudi Arabian Adnan Hashogi.

Members of the National Security Council of the United States Michael Ledeen and Robert McFarlane respond to the request of the President of Israel Shimon Peres to facilitate the sale of arms to Iran. Iran, faced with Iraq, found it difficult to find countries Wests in where to purchase weapons. The idea was that Israel furnish weapons through an intermediary Manucher Ghorbanifar identified as a political group opposed to Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini . Then, EE. UU. replenished sold weapons to Iran that would be paid by the Iranians claimed. The operation required the approval of the Government of the United States. McFarlane reassured Israelis that approval was given. Reagan justified this relationship for believing that the establishment of relations with strategically located country, and preventing the Soviet Union did the same, was a beneficial move. Although the sale of arms was established with an Iranian group opposed to Ayatollah This was done to Iran. On July 20th of 1979 the guerrilla columns of the Sandinista National Liberation Front enter Managua, with broad popular support, completing the defeat of Anastasio Somoza Debayle and thus the succession of dictatorial governments controlled by the Somoza family from murder of Augusto Cesar Sandino in 1934. At this point begins the period known as Nicaragua and Sandinista Revolution which lasted until February 1990 when the presidential elections in that month the FSLN lost the same in favor of the National Opposition Union (UNO), bonded to different parties and forces opposing the Sandinistas and supported by ...