Why did the United States sell arms to lran in the 1980s?
1 Answer
Sep 3, 2016
The need for the Iran Contra deals were to get Iranian help to influence Hezbollah in Lebanon with American Hostages held there.
Iran needed weapons for the Iran/Iraq War.
Explanation:
The original deal was to get Israel to sell surface to air missiles to Iran for a nebulous agreement to help get American Hostages released in Lebanon. America would then replace the missiles with Israel. Profits on the final deal were funneled to Contras Rebels in Nicaragua.
The takeover of the American Embassy in Iran in 1979 made Iran U.S. relations hostile. Actual direct arms dealing with Iran was illegal for the U.S. National Security personnel sought to circumvent the embargo to get Iranian co-operation.
