Lt. Col. Oliver North makes a point during his presentation on behalf of the Nicaraguan Contras at the Iran-Contra hearings. Getty Images
Lt. Col. Oliver North makes a point during his presentation on behalf of the Nicaraguan Contras at the Iran-Contra hearings. Getty Images

1986 - The Iran-Contra affair

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Updated 22 April 2025
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1986 - The Iran-Contra affair

1986 - The Iran-Contra affair
  • The scandal serves as stark reminder of how unchecked power, secrecy and political ambition can quickly undermine democracy

RIYADH: The 1986 Iran-Contra affair remains one of the most controversial episodes in modern US history, revealing a complex web of clandestine operations, legal violations and political intrigue. 

The scandal, which unfolded during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, revolved around covert sales of arms to Iran and the illegal diversion of the profits to fund right-wing Contra rebels in Nicaragua. It challenged the very principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law in democratic governance. 

The backdrop to the events was shaped by Cold War tensions and volatile Middle Eastern geopolitics. On May 17, 1985, Graham Fuller, the CIA’s national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia, wrote a memorandum to CIA Director William Casey on the options for US policy toward Iran. 

“Events are moving largely against our interests, and we have few palatable alternatives. The US has almost no cards to play; the USSR has many,” Fuller wrote. 

To provide the US with “some leverage in the race for influence in Tehran,” Fuller suggested Washington should “remove all restrictions on sales — including military — to Iran.” 

How we wrote it




Arab News reported Iran’s arrest and expulsion of US national security adviser Robert McFarlane who arrived on a “secret diplomatic mission.”

In Nicaragua, meanwhile, the Sandinista government, which in 1979 overthrew a US-backed political system, aligned itself with socialist policies and the Soviet Union. This development alarmed the Reagan administration, which supported the Contra rebels, a group accused of widespread human rights abuses. 

Simultaneously, the US faced complex challenges in the Middle East. Iran was engaged in a protracted war with Iraq (1980-1988), and Washington sought to limit Soviet influence in the region while securing the release of US hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon. 

Despite its public stance of refusal to negotiate with terrorists, and its own arms embargo on Tehran, the Reagan administration saw an opportunity to leverage arms sales as a means of influence. It wanted to secure the release of US hostages held by Hezbollah in Lebanon, and attempt to open a channel for dialogue with more-moderate elements in Iran. 

The Iran-Contra scandal involved two distinct yet interconnected operations. Firstly, senior US officials facilitated the secret sale of arms to Iran, ostensibly as a gesture of goodwill to moderate factions within the Iranian government and to secure the release of US hostages. This violated an arms embargo imposed by Washington on Iran, and contradicted Reagan’s public statements condemning terrorism. 

Secondly, profits from these arms sales were diverted to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. This contravened the Boland Amendment, a series of laws passed by Congress between 1982 and 1984 that explicitly prohibited US military assistance for the group. 

Key Dates

  • 1

    US and Israeli intelligence organizations collude in Operation Tipped Kettle, which involves the transfer to Contra rebels in Nicaragua of weapons seized from the PLO.

    Timeline Image 1983

  • 2

    With US agreement, Israel sends first of several shipments of American-made armaments to Iran in a bid to secure release of US hostages in Lebanon.

  • 3

    Lt. Col. Oliver North of the US National Security Council proposes direct sale of armaments to Iran, with the profits to go to the Contras in Nicaragua.

    Timeline Image Dec. 4, 1985

  • 4

    Lebanese weekly Ash-Shiraa exposes the illegal Iran arms deal.

    Timeline Image Nov. 3, 1986

  • 5

    North convicted on three charges relating to the Iran-Contra affair. In September 1991, all charges are dismissed on appeal.

    Timeline Image May 4, 1989

  • 6

    President George H.W. Bush pardons the former secretary of defense, Caspar Weinberger, and five other defendants facing trial over the Iran-Contra affair, saying it is “time for the country to move on.”

The plan was orchestrated by a small group of officials within the National Security Council, including Lt. Col. Oliver North, with the knowledge and support of senior figures such as National Security Advisor John Poindexter.  

At the same time, the CIA and the Department of Defense conducted Operation Tipped Kettle, which involved secret negotiations with Israel on the transfer of armaments captured from the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon to the CIA and, ultimately, to the Contras. 

In May 1983, Israel duly handed over several hundred tonnes of weapons, valued at $10 million. This was repeated in 1984. 

In 1985, Israel began shipping US weapons to Iran, in an attempt to curry favor with Tehran and pave the way for the release of American hostages, with the approval of Poindexter’s predecessor as Reagan’s national security adviser, Robert McFarlane. 

On Nov. 2, 1986, within days of the delivery of 500 antitank missiles to Iran, US hostage David Jacobsen was released by his captors in Beirut. North anticipated the release of other hostages would follow but this did not happen. 

In response to media inquiries, White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan publicly acknowledged, for the first time, the ongoing negotiations with Iran. 

The Iran-Contra affair fully came to light in late 1986, after Lebanese publication Ash-Shiraa revealed details of the arms deals with Iran. On Nov. 3, 1986, it published an account of a secret visit to Tehran by McFarlane in May 1986. Subsequent investigations by journalists and Congressional committees uncovered the broader plan, which raised serious questions about executive overreach, the subversion of Congressional authority, and the ethical conduct of government officials. It sparked outrage among lawmakers and the public. 

Televised hearings in 1987 captivated the country, with key figures, including North, testifying about the operation. While some viewed North as a patriot simply following orders, others considered him emblematic of an administration willing to circumvent the law to achieve its goals. 




Protestors gather outside the venue of an Oliver North speech. Getty Images

The hearings also revealed a culture of secrecy and deception within the Reagan administration, damaging the president’s credibility and eroding public trust in state institutions. 

The fallout from the Iran-Contra scandal included several criminal prosecutions. North, Poindexter and other officials were charged with crimes such as obstruction of justice, conspiracy and lying to Congress. 

The affair was also a major blow to the Reagan administration’s credibility. It raised questions about the extent of presidential knowledge and oversight, as Reagan maintained he was unaware of the transfer of funds to the Contras. Politically, the scandal tarnished his legacy, though his approval ratings remained high until the end of his presidency in 1989. 

The affair remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked executive power and the ethical dilemmas inherent in foreign policy. While it did not lead to lasting reforms in intelligence oversight, it did underscore the need for greater vigilance to prevent abuses of power, and serves as a case study in how the pursuit even of well-meaning objectives can result in unintended consequences if legal and ethical boundaries are crossed. 

  • Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami is head of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah). 


Lucid sticks to annual production forecast even as tariff woes hit automakers

Lucid sticks to annual production forecast even as tariff woes hit automakers
Updated 13 min 35 sec ago
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Lucid sticks to annual production forecast even as tariff woes hit automakers

Lucid sticks to annual production forecast even as tariff woes hit automakers

LONDON: Lucid stuck to its 2025 production forecast on Tuesday despite the threat of tariffs forcing many automakers to pull back targets, while the luxury electric-vehicle maker reported first-quarter revenue below analysts’ expectations.

Demand for pure battery cars in the US has been slowing as consumers, hit with high interest rates and recession worries, gravitate toward cheaper hybrids.

Lucid — majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund— lowered the prices of its vehicles and offered incentives, including cheaper financing, to entice customers to its Air sedans that start at about $70,000 in the US.

The company said it would produce nearly 20,000 vehicles this year, while Wall Street expects it to manufacture 18,370, according to an average of five analysts by Visible Alpha.

Revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was $235 million, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $248.9 million, data compiled by LSEG showed.

Lucid, which has been focusing on cutting costs, posted an adjusted net loss per share of 20 cents, narrower than the 27-cent loss a year ago.

The company is gearing up to expand its product line with a mid-size car expected to roll out next year, targeting a $50,000 price point, aiming to broaden its customer base and strengthen its position in the competitive EV sector.

Success of Lucid’s recently launched Gravity SUV, along with the midsize, is seen as crucial to its long-term outlook, as the company burns through cash ramping up production.

US automakers are grappling with tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on vehicle and auto parts imports. The tariffs are expected to disrupt supply chains and raise prices of automobiles.

Automakers, including Tesla, have said they were reassessing their full-year targets in the face of tariff uncertainty.

Last week, Trump signed two orders to soften the blow of his auto tariffs, with a mix of credits and relief from other levies on materials.

In September 2023 it launched its first international manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia.

Located in King Abdullah Economic City, the facility can currently assemble 5,000 Lucid vehicles annually during its first phase.

Once fully operational, it is expected to produce up to 155,000 electric cars per year.  


Oil Updates — crude rises as market eyes US-China trade talks, lower US output

Oil Updates — crude rises as market eyes US-China trade talks, lower US output
Updated 32 min 8 sec ago
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Oil Updates — crude rises as market eyes US-China trade talks, lower US output

Oil Updates — crude rises as market eyes US-China trade talks, lower US output

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Wednesday, holding slightly above recent four-year lows, as investors focused on US-China trade talks and signs of lower US production.

Brent crude futures gained 76 cents a barrel, or 1.22 percent, to $62.91 a barrel by 10:08 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 84 cents, or 1.42 percent, at $59.93 a barrel.

Both benchmarks plunged to a four-year low recently after OPEC+’s decision to speed up output increases, stoking fears of oversupply at a time when US tariffs have increased concerns about demand.

“News that the US and China will start trade talks this weekend has Brent crude trading higher, extending a relief rally in oil,” said commodities strategists at ING on Wednesday.

“Yet while negotiations would help improve sentiment in the oil market, we’ll need to see significant progress on lowering tariffs to improve the demand outlook,” ING added.

Meanwhile, lower oil prices in recent weeks have prompted some US energy firms including Diamondback Energy and Coterra Energy to announce rig reductions, which analysts said should support prices over time by reducing output.

The latest announcements suggested output will weaken in the coming months, said ANZ Bank senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes. “We warned last month that falling prices and declining drilling activity was raising the risk of US oil output falling.”

Crude stocks fell by 4.5 million barrels in the week ended May 2, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

US government data on stockpiles is due at 5:30 p.m. Saudi time. Analysts polled by Reuters expect, on average, an 800,000 barrel decline in US crude oil stocks for last week.

Prices also drew support from signs of demand improving. Consumers in China increased spending during the May Day celebration and as market participants returned after the five-day holiday.

In Europe, companies are expected to report growth of 0.4 percent in first-quarter earnings, an improvement over the 1.7 percent drop analysts had expected a week ago.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to leave US interest rates unchanged on Wednesday as tariffs roil the economic outlook.


Jameela Jamil lands role in new drama 

Jameela Jamil lands role in new drama 
Updated 38 min 12 sec ago
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Jameela Jamil lands role in new drama 

Jameela Jamil lands role in new drama 

DUBAI: Actress, body positivity activist and presenter Jameela Jamil, known for her role in “The Good Place,” is set to star in “Pyongyang Home Video,” a new drama based on true events. 

She will star alongside “Squid Game” actor Won Ji-an. 

Won Ji-an will star in the movie. (Getty Images) 

The film follows North Korean sisters Nari (Ji-an) and Hana, who grow up secretly watching banned Hollywood movies. When their father’s black market VHS operation is exposed by a neighbor, the sisters are forced to flee the country. As they navigate their dangerous escape, they use scenes from their favorite films to deal with the mental toll the journey takes on them. Years later, Nari meets American talk show host Serena (Jamil), who vows to reunite the sisters on live television — only for the broadcast to take an unforeseen and revealing turn.

Hailing from Imagine Entertainment and South Korea’s Desert Bloom Pictures, the film will be directed by award-winning Korean filmmaker Yoon Sung-hyun, famous for his movie “Bleak Night.”

The screenplay comes from Liz Kerin, an American screenwriter, novelist and acclaimed playwright best known for the vampire series “Night’s Edge.”

Jamil shared the news on Instagram, writing: “She’s doing a proper movie!!!!”

The actress has a few productions in the works. 

Jamil is set to star in “Hysterical,” a feminist dramedy created by Olivia Lee and loosely based on real-life events involving controversial internet personality Andrew Tate. 

Jamil stars alongside Naomie Harris and Romesh Ranganathan.

Jamil has also lent her voice to the Pixar animated film, “Elio,” which is set for release on June 20. Jamil will be voicing the character of Ambassador Questa.

“Elio” follows an 11-year-old boy named Elio, who accidentally becomes the ambassador for Earth after being transported across the galaxy.

The movie also features the voices of Yonas Kibreab as Elio, Remy Edgerly as his alien best friend Glordon, Academy Award winner Zoe Saldana as Elio’s Aunt Olga, Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, and Shirley Henderson as OOOOO.

Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, the film is produced by Mary Alice Drumm.


Aid agencies slam Israeli plans for Gaza aid distribution

Aid agencies slam Israeli plans for Gaza aid distribution
Updated 7 min 16 sec ago
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Aid agencies slam Israeli plans for Gaza aid distribution

Aid agencies slam Israeli plans for Gaza aid distribution
  • They said those entering the zone will be vetted by Israeli forces to ensure that supplies do not reach Hamas, with what aid agencies have described as special “hubs” to handle distribution
  • Israeli hard-liners have made no secret of their desire to see the Palestinian population moved out of Gaza, with politicians including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declaring the plan would result in a full occupation of Gaza

JERUSALEM/GENEVA:: Aid agencies have criticized Israeli plans to take over distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza and use private companies to get food to families after two months in which the military has prevented supplies from entering the enclave.
Israel has provided few details about its plans, announced on Monday as part of an expanded operation that it says could include seizing the entire Gaza Strip.
For the moment, the blockade will continue until a large-scale evacuation of the population from northern and central areas to the south, where there will be a specially designated area cleared near the southern city of Rafah, Israeli officials have said.
They said those entering the zone will be vetted by Israeli forces to ensure that supplies do not reach Hamas, with what aid agencies have described as special “hubs” to handle distribution.
Israel has already cleared around a third of the territory to create “security zones” and the aid plan, combined with plans for moving much of the population to the south, has reinforced fears that the overall intention is full occupation.
The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said on Tuesday the plan was “the opposite of what is needed” and other agencies also questioned the plan, which they have only been briefed on verbally, according to two aid officials.
“It is totally wrong that a party to the conflict – in this case Israel — should be in control of lifesaving aid for civilians,” Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council said on the social media platform X.
“This new Israeli aid plan is both totally insufficient to meet the needs in Gaza, and a complete breach of all humanitarian principles,” he said.
COMPLEXITY OF DISTRIBUTION
Aid officials have frequently accused Israel of deliberately disregarding the complexity of aid distribution in an environment such as Gaza, laid waste by 19 months of a war that has destroyed much of its infrastructure and displaced almost all of its 2.3 million population several times.
They say the latest plans appear to echo previous Israeli ones for “humanitarian bubbles” or “civilian islands” that were rejected earlier in the war.
Israel has accused agencies including the United Nations of allowing large quantities of aid to fall into the hands of Hamas, which it accuses of seizing supplies intended for civilians and using them for its own forces.
“If Hamas continues to steal the aid from the people as well as earning money from it, the war will continue forever,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement.
The government has said that cutting off aid is the best way to pressure Hamas to release 59 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
However, aid agencies say the plan would mean stripping vital protection from aid deliveries and effectively compel a transfer of civilians from the north to the south, contributing to conditions that could lead to their being forced out of Gaza permanently.
Israeli hard-liners have made no secret of their desire to see the Palestinian population moved out of Gaza, with politicians including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declaring the plan would result in a full occupation of Gaza.
An earlier Israeli plan, known as the General Eiland plan, foresaw severe restrictions on aid to Gaza as a way of choking off supplies to Hamas, and Israeli hard-liners have often harked back to the plan.
With many Palestinians believing that Israel’s ultimate aim is to use aid as leverage to force them to leave and to occupy Gaza, one aid official said, fundamental mistrust of Israel could undermine the system.
“Would you be comfortable with your enemy providing you with aid?” the official asked.

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concern about Israel’s plans to take over the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza and said his new foreign minister would travel to Israel at the weekend.
“It must be clear that the Israeli government must fulfil its obligations under international law and that humanitarian aid must be provided in the Gaza Strip,” he told ARD television late on Tuesday.
“We view the developments of the last few days with considerable concern,” he said, adding Israel had the right to defend itself but must live up to its humanitarian obligations.
Berlin feels a special responsibility toward Israel due to Germany’s legacy of the Holocaust and is traditionally cautious in its criticism of the government.
In February, Merz drew criticism from some for saying he had invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and would find a way for him to visit without being arrested under a warrant by the International Criminal Court.
Israel announced its plans on Monday as part of an expanded operation it says could include seizing the entire Gaza Strip. (


Pakistan’s cricket board says PSL T20 tournament to continue despite India-Pakistan tensions

Pakistan’s cricket board says PSL T20 tournament to continue despite India-Pakistan tensions
Updated 40 min 18 sec ago
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Pakistan’s cricket board says PSL T20 tournament to continue despite India-Pakistan tensions

Pakistan’s cricket board says PSL T20 tournament to continue despite India-Pakistan tensions
  • PSL features several foreign players and is credited with reviving international cricket in Pakistan
  • PCB says the cricket league will proceed, with Islamabad United set to take on Quetta Gladiators today

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed that the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) will proceed as scheduled, with Islamabad United set to face Quetta Gladiators later tonight in Rawalpindi, despite rising military tensions with neighboring India.
The match is set to begin at 8 PM local time at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, marking the league’s return to the city for four consecutive fixtures from May 7 to 10.
“HBL Pakistan Super League X will continue as planned with Islamabad United set to take on Quetta Gladiators later today at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” reads a handout issued by PCB.
The final group match, the PCB added, will be played in Multan on May 11, followed by the Eliminator in Rawalpindi on May 13. The playoffs and final are scheduled for May 14, 16 and 18 at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium.
The confirmation comes hours after Pakistan’s military said Indian missile strikes had killed at least 26 civilians and wounded 46 in cross-border attacks on six locations inside Pakistani territory.
India’s defense ministry said it had launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting what it claimed were “militant infrastructure” linked to a recent deadly assault on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
New Delhi has blamed the attack on Pakistan, a charge Islamabad has repeatedly denied.
Responding to the Indian attack, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country’s air force had downed five Indian fighter jets in the early hours of Wednesday.
The PSL, which features several foreign players, is widely credited with reviving international cricket in Pakistan after a decade-long suspension following the 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
The HBL PSL, now in its 10th season, is considered Pakistan’s premier T20 franchise competition and a symbol of the country’s sporting resilience.
Since its full return to home soil in 2020, it has helped Pakistan rebuild its reputation as a safe destination for international cricket.