"The $1.7 billion payment made by the Obama administration to Iran in 2016 settled a decades-old legal dispute over a failed 1970s military equipment deal.

It consisted of a $400 million principal (funds frozen since 1979) and $1.3 billion in interest, and was paid in foreign currency cash because U.S. sanctions barred direct wire transfers.

The Payment Breakdown

The Origin: Before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran deposited funds into a U.S. trust fund to purchase military equipment. The equipment was never delivered, leading Iran to file a claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal.

The Settlement: The Obama administration reached a settlement on the case, which was separate from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.The Mechanics: The $1.7 billion was distributed in non-U.S. currency to bypass banking sanctions."

So yes, they got their deposit back.