IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR
PLAN
An operation to free American Hostages being
held by terrorist groups with Iranian ties.
 It was planned that Israel would ship weapons
to Iran, and then the U.S. would resupply Israel
and receive the Israeli payment.
 Being held by the Lebanese Shia Islamist group
Hezbollah
 Hezbollah: militant group and political party in
Lebanon (terrorist group).

OLIVER NORTH
The plan deteriorated into an arms-forhostages scheme
 Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North in 1985
mostly set up the plan where a portion of the
proceeds from the weapon sales was
diverted to fund anti-Sandinista and anticommunist rebels, or Contras, in Nicaragua.

THE PLAN EXPOSED

Lebanese newspaper reported that the U.S.
sold arms to Iran through Israel in exchange for
the release of hostages by Hezbollah.
REAGAN
President Ronald Reagan: was a supporter of
the Contra cause
 no evidence has been found showing that he
authorized the exchange of the money raised
by the Iranian arms sales to the Contras.
 “Reagan was more than aware that this was
happening”. (I think)

WHAT DID REAGAN KNOW

After the weapon sales were revealed in
November 1986, Reagan appeared on national
television and stated that the weapons
transfers had indeed occurred, but that the
United States did not trade arms for hostages.
NATIONAL TELEVISION

On March 4, 1987, Reagan returned to the
airwaves in a nationally televised address,
taking full responsibility for any actions that he
was unaware of.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Bush was vice-president at the time of the
affair.
 Some of those involved in the Iran–Contra
scandal who were convicted of felonies and
subsequently pardoned later became
members of the administration of George W.
Bush.
