1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Iran Payments Accountability Act of 2018 . 2. Determination and report on use of funds received by the Government of Iran by reason of sanctions relief pursuant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or cash payments conveyed by the United States in early 2016 (a) Determination (1) In general The Director of National Intelligence shall seek to determine if the Government of Iran has used any of the funds described in paragraph (2)— (A) to sponsor any foreign terrorist organization, including Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps; (B) to engage in violence or hostilities against United States nationals or members of the United States Armed Forces; (C) to conduct military operations in Syria; or (D) to facilitate illicit narcotics activities. (2) Funds described Funds described in this paragraph are— (A) funds received by reason of any action involving any measure of statutory sanctions relief by the United States pursuant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and (B) cash payments totaling $1,700,000,000 conveyed by the United States Government to the Government of Iran in early 2016. (b) Report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report that contains— (A) the determination of the Director required under subsection (a) and a justification for the determination; and (B) a description of whether the cash payments described in subsection (a)(2)(B)— (i) constituted an exchange of cash payments for hostages