WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) reacted to today’s announcement that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in a 6-2 decision, to uphold a decision by a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that $1.9 billion in Iranian funds be turned over to the families of victims of Iran-sponsored terror attacks, including the 1983 bombing that killed 241 Marines in Beirut, Lebanon
“The Supreme Court affirmed today that legislative provisions I authored in 2012 were within the Constitutional authorities of the United States Congress. And while there is no amount of money, no financial rewards, and no court rulings that can ever truly comfort the families of the victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism, today’s decision is a long awaited victory for justice and in recognizing that the survivors are entitled to this compensation.”
“By confirming Congress’ prerogative to enact legislation that provides for appropriate and fair compensation to victims of Iranian terrorism, the Supreme Court has also delivered a clear warning to Iran: So long as Iran continues its support for terrorism, its regime will be held liable for its actions. This should give the regime pause – its potential windfalls from sanctions relief under the Iran nuclear deal may now be steered to a much greater cause, compensation to American victims of Iran’s predatory foreign policies, something I’ve advocated all along.
Senator Menendez authored the amendment to the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (ITRA) requiring that financial assets involved in this court proceeding shall “satisfy any judgment…of any compensatory damages awarded against Iran for damages for personal injury or death caused by an act of terrorism.”
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