Jaime Herrera Beutler Votes to Hold Iran Accountable to Compensate Victims of Terror It Sponsored

Press Release

Today Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler join a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to require Iran to compensate American victims of terrorism it sponsored. The Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act prohibits President Obama from relieving Iran of economic sanctions and unfreezing its assets until it honors the settlements ordered by U.S. courts to pay $43 billion in damages to victims caused by terrorist acts it supported.

Over the past 15 years, U.S. Courts have ruled in 80 cases that the government of Iran has provided weapons, training and funding to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Hezbollah that have victimized countless individuals around the world, including American citizens. While Iran has refused to pay the $43 billion in damages it owes, it stands to gain more than $100 billion from the Iran nuclear deal struck by the Obama Administration.

"Iran shouldn't receive one penny in sanction relief from the U.S. until it pays those families victimized by its actions," said Jaime. "One of the reasons I opposed the Iran nuclear agreement is because Iran is an untrustworthy negotiating partner. Demanding Iran pay what it owes should have been a central plank in the Obama Administration's negotiation position in exchange for the $100 billion boost the U.S. will provide that irresponsible regime. I don't believe the U.S. should tolerate terrorism and those who perpetrate terrorism, and the families of terrorist victims should not witness Iran receive a $100 billion reward from the U.S. without receiving what they are owed.

Source