Kerry says Iran payout saved US taxpayers ‘billions of dollars’

Kerry flatly denies any connection between the cash — and an additional $1.3 billion interest payment — and the implementation of the nuclear deal and the prisoner swap that all occurred in rapid succession.

“The United States does not pay ransom and does not negotiate ransoms,” Kerry tells reporters in Buenos Aires. “It is not our policy. This story is not a new story. This was announced by the president of the United States himself at the same time.”

He says the settlement agreement with Iran ultimately saved US taxpayers what could have been billions of dollars in additional interest.

“We believe this agreement … actually saved the American taxpayers potentially billions of dollars,” Kerry says. “There was no benefit to the United States of America to drag this out.”

— AP