Ronald Reagan Influence On Iran

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While Iran and Iraq were at war, Iran made a secret request to buy weapons from the United States. President at the time Ronald Reagan would be driven to bring 7 American hostages being held captive in Iran back home. If Reagan had to go as far as selling these arms and having to go against the embargo of not selling to Iran to bring American Hostages home, he would do so. In the time being Reagan was also vocal on helping a nicaraguan anti-communist organization called the Contras. Later on when this secret request was brought into the eye of the public the scandal of both the Iran trade of weapons for hostages and helping a group founded by the cocaine trade this managed to hurt the presidency of Reagan. Later, causing a separation in the Reagan …show more content…
The United States was anti-communist and during his election Ronald Reagan vouched to assist anti-communist insenties around the world. At the same time Reagan was very interested in the situation that was happening in Nicaragua. There was a war in Nicaragua between the Contras, a nicaraguan army fighting the communist group Sandinistas, Reagan referred to the Contras as the “moral equal of our founding fathers”. Which, many saw a problem with this statement given by President Reagan due to the Contras being funded by the cocaine trade happening in South America. Although Reagan had vouched to help anti-communist organizations around the world, Congress knew they couldn’t be involved with a group who had the majority of their funding provided by the cocaine trade which gave them a motive to create an amendment. This amendment was called the Boland Amendment, which was created so that American money could not fund the Contras. This amendment was passed in 1982. Although, this amendment was passed that did not stop Reagan from wanting to get involved with the Contras and Iran, even if it meant going against this