Karzai: Iran, US Give Me Bags of Money

Afghanistan’s president confirmed a New York Times report that his office gets bags of cash from Iran, saying the US has long known about it—and that the US also provides “bags of money," the AP reports. The Iranian money comes in batches of some $700,000 to $975,000 once or twice a year, he says, for official expenses; indeed, several countries give his cash-strapped office money, he noted. “They do give us bags of money," he said of the US. "Yes, yes they do. It’s all the same. So let’s not make this an issue.”

"They have asked for good relations in return, and for lots of other things in return,” said Karzai of Iran. “And we have also asked for lots of things in return in this relationship. This is a relationship between neighbors and it will go on and we will continue to ask for cash help from Iran.” Click here to read more about the "presidential slush fund." (More Afghanistan stories.)