Yes the US was paying extortion money. Billions. Iran wanted more. It's all moot at this point, Israel attacked Iran and the US agreed to assist them. Trying to bully Trump was a mistake as they found out. For what it's worth it was not "working". Iran was still enriching Uranium and would have eventually become a nuclear power which nobody in the middle east or Europe wants. Iran has missiles that can almost reach Europe and they were not far away from extending that range. It was time to put the bully down, though I do not agree with the way it is being done. Air strikes are like playing whack-a-mole. Boots will be required on the ground to take over the under-mountain missile cities and that will be a shit show. I can completely understand their hesitation to do it.