Congress is considering a bill this week that prohibits Iranian sanction relief until the country pays American victims of terrorism $43.5 billion in court-ordered damages.
The Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, spearheaded by Rep. Patrick Meehan, aims to stall Obama’s controversial Iran agreement which lifts the country’s economic sanctions in exchange for a delay in the advancement of its nuclear program.
“Iran should not get a red cent in U.S. sanctions relief until it has paid its victims what they are owed,” Meehan said in a statement announcing the bill earlier this month. “I oppose the Iran deal, but surely we can all agree that Iran should not reap any benefits from the U.S. until it has compensated the families of those whose lives were taken by Iranian terrorism.”
Around $45 billion has been awarded to american victims by the courts over the past two decades, none of which came from Iran, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Iran nuclear deal is expected to provide $150 billion into Iran’s economy, which has some lawmakers concerned the increased revenue will provide the country with funds for terroristic activity.
Meehan’s bill, which has garnered 84 Republican cosponsors in the House, comes after the Senate failed to block a measure to derail the deal in early September.
The House Rules Committee is set to further discuss the measure at a hearing Wednesday morning.
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