US House approves bill banning cash payments to Iran

The US House approved legislation late Thursday to prohibit the United States from making cash payments to Iran and require that Congress be notified before any future claims settlements with Tehran are conducted, Fox News reported on Friday. 

The bill passed by a wide margin, 254-163.

The measure, an election-year broadside, won ample support from Republicans aiming to rebuke the Obama administration for paying Iran $1.7 billion in cash earlier this year to settle a decades-old arbitration claim. 

Democrats have accused Republicans of trying to score political points with the bill.

Since the initial payment was made the same day Tehran agreed to release four American prisoners, GOP lawmakers decried the payments as ransom, a charge the White House has rejected. 

Citing Iran's status as a leading state sponsor of terrorism, Republicans have contended the untraceable cash will be used to finance terrorism around the world. 

Although the bill targets Iran, lawmakers also passed an amendment that would bar the US from paying cash to other designated sponsors of terrorism and North Korea.

Source: MENA