The U.S. returned Iranian(’s) money which had been seized from American banking institutions as part of the internationally-imposed sanctions. Once the international sanctions were lifted, the money was freed up and needed to be returned to it’s original depositor(/owner). With sanctions came frozen assets and no international bank ties, so the previously seized Iranian cash could not be wired “back” to an Iranian account. There were no trustworthy Iranian banking institutions. So we couldn’t write them a check either (that pesky bank thing again). They couldn’t have cashed it. So we loaded up a plane to give them back their assets. It looked and sounded crazy, and the timing was just ridiculous, but it was the lawful, internationally respected (and expected) method of honoring the lifting of Iranian sanctions.
In return, the world can now breathe a sigh of collective relief. Iran agreed to end it’s attempts to proliferate nuclear weapons. They also agreed to start allowing international inspectors to enter Iran, ensuring the international agreement is held up and otherwise enforced.
As for Israel, the U.S. just passed a measure providing Israel with more financial support than we’ve ever given them before (I want to say it’s $358B, but I’m not certain of the exact, ludicrously large amount). So, no worries about us taking care of Israel either.
Everything’s wonderful in the U.S. IF (and only IF): you’re not a female under the age of 110 (see all aspects of women’s education, growth, sexual experiences, career development, and healthcare, including Medicare), if you’re not an immigrant- especially if you aren’t Mexican, if you’re not Muslim, if you’re skin isn’t a shade more brown than white, if you’ve never been Miss Universe, if you’re not LGBTQXIAPK, if you’re not a Syrian refugee, if you’re not one of the millions of other refugees fleeing Northern Africa, definitely if you’re not a member or supporter of BLS, if you’re not a judge with immigrant parents, if you’ve never been sexually assaulted, if you believe climate change isn’t real, if you’re a not a current or former POW, or, my favorite- if you don’t have “an ISIS name”- whatever on God’s green earth that means, etc. As long as you’re not a part of any of those groups, you’ll continue to be just fine in the U.S. (if He-who-shall-not-be-named wins).
But yes- Israel and Iran are just fine.
