AFP/Washington

US Republicans said yesterday they were introducing legislation that would use frozen Iranian assets to pay American victims of Iranian terrorism before billions of dollars are returned to Tehran as part of the nuclear deal.
Congressional Republicans are furious over the landmark accord that aims to rein in Iran’s nuclear programme, in exchange for an easing of sanctions that have crippled the country’s economy.
They see the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act as a way to stall the deal, or at least take a major bite out of funds that would be returned to Tehran.
The bill will be introduced this week, according to its sponsor, House Republican Pat Meehan.
“There are some $43.5bn in judgments which have been rendered under American law for victims of acts of Iranian terror,” with more than 80 lawsuits successfully prosecuted through US courts, Meehan told reporters.  
“Despite this, not one cent has been paid by Iran,” he said. “This is an opportunity to change that dynamic.”
In backing the bill, House Speaker John Boehner said it would be unfair for President Barack Obama to “provide Iran with about $100bn of their assets locked up in Western banks, without first paying the victims of Iranian terrorism”.
Meehan said he had virtually unanimous support in his caucus, and expected the measure also to be introduced this week in the Senate, where its fate remained less certain.
Sarah Shourd, who was captured while hiking along the Iran-Iraq border and imprisoned by Iran for more than a year, said the legislation would jeopardise the nuclear deal, as well as the fate of Americans currently held in Iran.