SHERMAN SEEKS COMPENSATIONFOR TEHRAN EMBASSY HOSTAGES
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brad Sherman joined Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on Wednesday in calling for justice for 52 Americans taken hostage in 1979 in Iran. Sherman is the ranking member of the House International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation.
œI have long supported efforts to hold the Iranian regime and other sponsors of terrorism accountable for their actions and to provide compensation to their victims. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has become the main impediment to obtaining that accountability and compensation. These claimants, and other plaintiffs seeking compensation from Iran, prevailed in the courtroom only to be thwarted by their own government when it came time to collect.
œIn this case, our own State Department has effectively sided with the Iranian regime against its own employees. What type of message does that send to those who serve our government and our military? And what message does it send those who seek to kill Americans?
œThis legislation seeks to solve that dilemma by abrogating the Algiers Accord with respect to these victims. This agreement has governed much of U.S.-Iran relations since the breach in diplomatic relations, and abrogation gives many of us pause. We believe in the sanctity of treaties and executive agreements.
œBut an agreement entered into under duress is void from its onset. The U.S. had the proverbial gun to its head when it made this agreement. Some of the hostages here today had real guns pointed at their heads, and we had little or no choice but to sign this document if we were to get them home safely.
œI would also point out that Iran and its proxies have conducted and supported attacks designed to kill Americans “ the 241 Marines in Beirut, the 19 American servicemen at Khobar Towers, and dozens of Americans visiting Israel over the years. I would say that these murders abrogate the Algiers accords.
œThe State Department will use whatever legal argument it can to prevent collection from the Iranian regime and its leading personalities. This legislation removes one legal impediment with respect to one class of victims. It will also provide for limited awards to prevent this class from depleting Iranian assets. This is important because we will need to provide for compensation for the other victims of Iranian terror, and I am afraid we will need to further hobble the State Departments legal operations if all victims are going to see some measure of justice.