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The Iran-Contra Affair (also called the Iran-Contra Scandal, the Iran-Contra Matter and Iran-gate) was the result of an arms deal between the United States, Iran and the Nicaraguan Contras, an anti-communist group operating against the [[Marxist]] government of Nicaragua.  Essentially, arms were sold to Iran against an international embargo which was spearheaded just years earlier by the United States.  The proceeds from this arms sale were then used to purchase additional arms for the Contra Guerilla group operating in the mountains of Nicaragua.

The Iran-Contra Affair (also called the Iran-Contra Scandal, the Iran-Contra Matter and Iran-gate) was the result of an arms deal between the United States, Iran and the Nicaraguan Contras, an anti-communist group operating against the [[Marxist]] government of Nicaragua.  Essentially, arms were sold to Iran against an international embargo which was spearheaded just years earlier by the United States.  The proceeds from this arms sale were then used to purchase additional arms for the Contra Guerilla group operating in the mountains of Nicaragua.

Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, who was appointed as legal counsel to investigate the legality of the affair, determined that under the Arms Export Control Act <ref> http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sup_01_22_10_39_20_II.html </ref> such sales to foreign powers not deemed under the term of the act friendly are illegal. <ref> http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/execsum.htm </ref> The payments to the Contras themselves, while not illegal at the time, were considered highly unethical and were later made explicitly illegal by the Borland amendment to the Federal Appropriation Bill. In addition to the major crimes committed, the official legal opinion recorded that the Reagan administration set about deliberately misleading congress and was further guilty of wilful obstruction of justice by withholding and destroying vital documentary evidence.  

Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, who was appointed to investigate the legality of the affair, determined that under the Arms Export Control Act <ref> http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sup_01_22_10_39_20_II.html </ref> such sales to foreign powers not deemed under the term of the act friendly are illegal. <ref> http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/execsum.htm </ref> The payments to the Contras themselves, while not illegal at the time, were considered highly unethical and were later made explicitly illegal by the Borland amendment to the Federal Appropriation Bill. In addition to the major crimes committed, the official legal opinion recorded that the Reagan administration set about deliberately misleading congress and was further guilty of wilful obstruction of justice by withholding and destroying vital documentary evidence.  

Some commentators have gone as far as to suggest that that members of the Reagan administration were guilty of treason in the affair, as selling arms to Iran at a time when Iranians were accused of destroying the US Marine Barracks in Lebanon, killing 241 American service personnel, constituted "adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." This was not, however, included as part of the official legal opinion at the time.

Some commentators have gone as far as to suggest that that members of the Reagan administration were guilty of treason in the affair, as selling arms to Iran at a time when Iranians were accused of destroying the US Marine Barracks in Lebanon, killing 241 American service personnel, constituted "adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." This was not, however, included as part of the official legal opinion at the time.