Payment to Teheran was 'not ransom'

Obama says $400m cash is part of a dispute over a failed military equipment deal in 1970s

US President Barack Obama vigorously denied on Thursday that a $400 million cash payment to Iran was ransom to secure the release of four US citizens jailed in Teheran. He defended the transaction as evidence that the nuclear accord with Iran has allowed for progress on other matters.

"This wasn't some nefarious deal," Obama said during a news conference at the Pentagon.