Question

during the 1980s, profit from the sale of weapons to iran was used to
stop the communists in costa rica.
start a proxy war in el salvador.
support the contras in nicaragua.
stage a coup détat in guatemala.

Explanation:

This refers to the Iran-Contra affair of the 1980s, where the U.S. secretly sold weapons to Iran and used the proceeds to fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua, despite a congressional ban on such support. The other options do not align with this specific historical event.

Answer:

support the Contras in Nicaragua.