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| The explosion of the Marine Corps building in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983 created a large cloud of smoke that was visible from miles away. [FILE PHOTO] |
Washington: Survivors and families who lost loved ones in the 1983 Beirut Bombing praised President Barack Obama for signing into law the Iran Sanctions Bill, which recently passed Congress with strong bi-partisan support.
"Now, after almost 30 years, we are much closer to holding Iran responsible for the murder of 241 American servicemen and maiming others in Beirut ," said Lynn Smith Derbyshire, National Spokesperson for the Beirut Families, whose brother Marine Captain Vincent Smith was killed in the Beirut bombing.
"The American people, through the Congress, the President, and the American courts have spoken. As a nation, we want Iran to know that it cannot get away with murder and mayhem and that it will have to meet its responsibilities for its vile acts in 1983. We hope that this strong support continues across all branches of government as we pursue the last stage of fulfilling justice against Iran ," Derbyshire continued.
President Obama signed the Iran Sanctions Bill on Friday, August 10. It passed Congress on August 1st.
The bill includes provisions that strengthen and clarify current American law dealing with how the survivors and families can attach Iranian funds located in the U.S. to pay final court ordered judgments against Iran for "carrying" the bombing.