Fact Check: Did Obama hire lawyers following backlash over 2016 cash transfer to Iran?

WASHINGTON, DC: As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, following which former President Barack Obama is facing backlash for transferring money to Iran that allegedly funded its nuclear program, a claim began circulating that the former president has hired nine lawyers, fearing a potential backlash. Let us fact-check the claim.

Claim: Barack Obama hired lawyers to defend backlash against cash transfer to Iran

President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated that Obama sent $1.7 billion in cash to Iran in 2016 by dropping it from a Boeing 757 aircraft. Following this, a rumor began circulating on social media that the former president had hired a team of 9 criminal defense lawyers, fearing potential legal action from the Trump administration. 

The claim surfaced on X on Monday, March 2, and has garnered more than two million views with thousands of likes and comments as of this writing. Those commenting on the post even appear to believe the claim is true.

Fact Check: False, no official reports support the claim

However, there are no official reports that the federal authorities are taking legal action against Obama for the cash transfer in 2016. 

There is also no confirmation from the former president or his team about lawyering up. Hence, the claims that he is in trouble over it are false.

A Google search for relevant keywords yielded no results that support the claim. There are also no reports in credible news media outlets about the rumor, which, if true, would been widely covered.

Donald Trump repeats claim of Barack Obama's cash transfer to Iran

“The deal that Obama made, giving them everything, including plane loads of cash… It was a Boeing 757," Trump said. "It was two of them, loaded. They took out all the seats. It was loaded with green cash… It was in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC."

"They got all the cash from all the banks… and they flew it to Iran. I never knew a President had that power.”

The claim was based on the payments that the administrations of Joe Biden and Obama released to Iran.

The payment was part of a settlement for a failed pre-1979 arms deal, and an initial $400 million was delivered by plane on January 17, 2016, which coincided with the release of American prisoners.

The Biden administration approved waivers that allowed Iran to access about $10 billion from Iraqi electricity payments that were being held in escrow. These waivers had been extended several times over the years.