Between the years 1983 and 1986, the United States was involved in a series of covert operations, collectively known as the Iran-Contra Affair. These operations were at best controversial and, at worst, blatantly illegal. The Iran-Contra affair (or Iran Contra-scandal) revolved around the issue of foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran and Nicaragua. In 1979, the revolution in Iran led to a complete change in the country's relations with the United States. Having previously been an ally of the United States, Iran, under its new regime, had become decidedly anti-American. These changes caused a period of unrest that lasted until the mid-1980s between the United States and Iran. Stabilizing the situation in Iran was one of the key objectives that motivated many of the authorities ultimately responsible for the Iran-Contra affair. In 1985, seven hostages were taken by a terrorist group in Lebanon. This terrorist group had ties to Iran. Therefore, when Iran asked the United States to sell it weapons, President Reagan saw it as a potential way to obtain the return of the hostages. President Reagan wanted to see them return safely and hoped to re-establish good relations between the United States and Iran. Many members of Congress were strongly opposed to the idea. Going through with the arms deal was a direct violation of several laws, including policies against selling weapons to entities on the terrorist or terrorist-friendly countries lists (Iran was included in those lists). Furthermore, in negotiating with Iran, the Reagan administration would be dealing with known “terrorists,” something Reagan was openly very against. Nonetheless, the Reagan administration complied with the Iranian's request, spluttering... middle of paper... Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=38274.Sara Chimene-Weiss et al., “Iran: Background,” Understanding the Iran-Contra Affairs, accessed May 22, 2014, http:// www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/i- background.php.Jeffrey David Simon, The Terrorist Trap: America's Experience with Terrorism, 2nd ed. (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2001), 188-89. David J. Scheffer, “US Law and the Iran-Contra Affair,” The American Journal of International Law 81, no. 3 (July 1987): 698, accessed May 20, 2014, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2202027. Stefan A. Riesenfeld, “The Powers of Congress and the President in International Relations: Revisited,” California Review legal 75, n. 1 (January 1987): 405-14, accessed May 21, 2014, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3480586.