Pastor Saeed Abedini denounces $400 million U.S. sent to Iran
Saeed Abedini, the Iranian American pastor who was imprisoned in Iran for three and a half years, was not pleased about the $400 million that the U.S. government paid in exchange for his release. The pastor lamented that he had been used as a "bargaining chip" and believed that he would not have been freed had he not been useful for negotiations.
"I am not free because I am a U.S. Citizen. I am free because I was useful for negotiations. And only for a brief moment in time. If I hadn't been useful I would still be there," Abedini wrote in an op-ed column for Fox.
Last month, the U.S. State Department admitted that it had sent $400 million to Iran on the day the pastor and three other American citizens were freed. However, the administration claimed the money did not serve as ransom but as payment to Iran for an arms contract in the '70s that failed to be completed.
The pastor complained that the U.S. government would not pay for his plane ticket to go back to the U.S. when he arrived in Germany. He added that he only got back home through the help of Rev. Franklin Graham.
"How could so many people go to such great lengths, including a airplane full of $400 million in cash, and yet a plane ticket home for me was, as I was told, 'not in the budget?'" he asked.
"It is clear to me that I was a bargaining chip in a much larger political game. And once that process was over, well, I nearly had to buy my own plane ticket home," the pastor added.
Abedini maintained that he is grateful to God and the U.S. government for his freedom but he stated that he was willing to die for his faith.
He is concerned that the money that was paid to Iran might be used to abuse and imprison people who oppose the dictatorship and theology imposed by Iranian government.
The pastor accused the Iranian government of financing terrorism and said that he will stand against the regime for the rest of his life.
Abedini wrote that he was scheduled to testify in Congress this week but it was canceled. In his Facebook page, he shared the written Congressional testimony that he submitted to U.S. Rep. Ed Royce.
