What was the Iran-Contra affair and when did it occur?
The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal in the U.S. that occurred between 1985 and 1987 involving secret arms sales to Iran and funding for Nicaraguan rebels.
The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal in the U.S. that occurred between 1985 and 1987 involving secret arms sales to Iran and funding for Nicaraguan rebels.
Key figures included President Ronald Reagan, National Security Advisers Robert McFarlane and John Poindexter, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, and Secretary of State George Shultz.
Senior Reagan administration officials conducted a secret study on the 21st of July 1981 and used intermediaries like Manucher Ghorbanifar to facilitate sales through Israel starting on the 20th of August 1985.
Congress passed three amendments between 1982 and 1984 aimed at limiting U.S. government assistance to Contra militants because they prohibited further funding by legislative appropriations.
A jury convicted North of three crimes but overturned the convictions on appeal while his secretary Fawn Hall received immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony.