Iran said that $1.7 billion that the United States sent it in January was cash owned since before the 1979 revolution, confirming the White House's assertion that it was not related to nuclear talks or a prisoner release.
The money - $400 million in funds frozen since 1981 plus $1.3 billion interest - was part of a trust fund Iran used to buy US military equipment before the 1979 revolution after which the two countries cut diplomatic ties.
"The transfer of $400 million from America to the Islamic Republic of Iran was related to sale of military equipment to Iran prior to the revolution and had nothing to do with the nuclear deal," the head of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.
"We prefer not to get involved in details of the case and let the U.S. presidential candidates reveal their real nature in this chaotic electoral atmosphere," Sputnik cited Shamkhani as saying.
