President Obama gave Ayatollah Khamenei $1.7 billion in cash.

In 2016, the Obama administration transferred $1.7 billion to Iran in cash, which was acknowledged by multiple reputable sources including AP News and CBS News.apnews.comapnews.comUS payment of $1.7 billion to Iran made entirely in cashcbsnews.comcbsnews.comObama administration acknowledges $1.7B transfer to Iran was all cash This payment was part of a settlement resolving a long-standing financial dispute dating back to before the 1979 Iranian revolution, involving an arms deal that was never fulfilled. The money was transferred in foreign currency cash shipments due to legal and logistical constraints.+1 more

While some critics and commentators have framed this as a 'cash payment' or 'ransom,' official explanations clarify it was a settlement payment rather than a ransom for hostages or a direct gift to Iran's Supreme Leader.christianpost.comchristianpost.comObama Admits Paying $1.7 Billion to Iran; Denies Paying Ransom Money for... The claim often omits this context, which is crucial for understanding the nature of the transaction.

Additionally, some sources note that parts of the funds may have been traced to Iranian-backed groups, raising concerns about how Iran used the money. However, the amount was not $150 billion as some misinformation suggests; fact-checking sources confirm the figure is $1.7 billion.factcheck.orgfactcheck.orgObama Didn't Give Iran '150 Billion in Cash'newsweek.comnewsweek.comFact Check: Did the US Under Obama Give Iran $150 Billion?+1 more

Therefore, while it is accurate that cash was transferred under Obama's administration, the framing that Obama 'gave' this money directly to Ayatollah Khamenei without context is misleading.