(FILES) This file photo taken on January 6, 2016 shows State Department Spokesman John Kirby speaking during the daily briefing at the State Department in Washington, DC. The United States acknowledged that it waited for Iran to release American prisoners before delivering $400 million in cash that it owed the country, but again insisted the payment was not ransom.Republicans including Donald Trump pounced on the August 18, 2016 admission as proof that President Barack Obama's government had misled the American people "With concerns that Iran may renege on the prisoner release... we of course sought to retain maximum leverage until after American citizens were released," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters."That was our top priority," he said. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images