The Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra Affair was a secret political scandal in the United States during the 1980s. U.S. officials secretly sold weapons to Iran, which was then under an arms embargo, hoping to secure the release of American hostages. The proceeds from these sales were then illegally diverted to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua, despite a congressional ban. When exposed, it revealed a covert network of actions bypassing official policies, leading to widespread controversy and questions about government accountability.