Iran-Contra Affair
Political scandalAbout
The Iran-Contra Affair was a significant political scandal in the United States during the 1980s. It involved the secret sale of arms to Iran, despite an embargo, in exchange for the release of American hostages held by Iranian allies in Lebanon. The scandal deepened when it was discovered that profits from these arms sales were diverted to support the Contras, a rebel group fighting against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. This diversion was done without Congressional approval, violating the Boland Amendment, which prohibited U.S. funding for the Contras. The scandal unfolded in 1986 after a plane carrying arms to the Contras was shot down, and a surviving crew member revealed U.S. involvement. The incident led to televised hearings and the revelation of a complex network involving senior officials like Oliver North and John Poindexter. The affair highlighted the Reagan administration's efforts to circumvent Congressional oversight, leading to significant political fallout and investigations. Despite President Reagan's denials of direct involvement, the scandal remains a controversial chapter in U.S. foreign policy history.
