Press Releases

Today, the House passed H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, introduced by Congressman Ed Royce (CA-39), by a vote of 254-163. H.R. 5931 would prohibit the United States from making cash payments to Iran or any other state sponsors of terrorism, plus North Korea, until they are no longer deemed a state sponsor of terrorism.

Earlier this week, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) went on Lou Dobbs Tonight to discuss the administration’s cash payment to Iran on the night the four American hostages were released. During the interview, Congressman Hill outlined major contentions from House Republicans on the issue of the payments, including questioning why the administration repeatedly defended its decision to pay in cash by citing sanctions against Iran that prevented them from being able to undergo normal banking transactions when Department of Treasury officials have admitted to using wire transfers to pay Iran in the last 14 months.

“For nearly one year, the Obama Administration has misled the American people and Congress on key details related to their settlement and hostage negotiations with Iran. We saw this again last week when the State Department and Treasury officials said the payment was made in cash solely because the United States does not have a banking relationship with Iran, only to find out we have made multiple wire transfers to them in the past 14 months,” said Hill. “Today’s vote addresses these obfuscatory tactics displayed by the administration in their negotiations with the lead state sponsor of terrorism by setting out clear legal guidelines that the administration will have to follow in their dealings with Iran.”

H.R. 5931 would also formally make it the policy of the United States not to pay ransom in exchange for American citizens taken hostage abroad.

“Whether this was a ransom payment or not is irrelevant, and in handing over cash in exchange for these American hostages, this administration has given bad actors the impression the United States is willing to negotiate and trade money in exchange for hostages. Chairman Royce’s bill will make it clear to our enemies throughout the world the United States will not pay ransom,” said Hill.