6 Things to Know About the Shocking Allegations Concerning Obama, Hezbollah and Iran
6. Obama officials deny that decisions were made for "political reasons"
Several Obama administration officials spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity and said that law enforcement decisions pertaining to the Hezbollah investigation were guided by broader policy objectives, including the goal to de-escalate conflict with Iran, curb its nuclear program and secure the release of four Americans who were imprisoned in Iran at the time.
However, the former officials "denied that they derailed any actions against Hezbollah or its Iranian allies for political reasons," according to the report.
"There has been a consistent pattern of actions taken against Hezbollah, both through tough sanctions and law enforcement actions before and after the Iran deal," Kevin Lewis, an Obama administration spokesman, told Politico.
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Lewis went on to list eight arrests and prosecutions in an attempt to prove that the administration had taken action against Hezbollah operatives, such as a 2016 operation where European authorities arrested a number of agents in Hezbollah's business affairs unit.
In response to the former CIA officer's accusations that the U.S. "acquiesced" to the demands of Iran, another former senior Obama national security denied the claim in an interview with Politico.
"That the Iranians would ask for a favor in this realm and that we would acquiesce is ludicrous," the official said.
