U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday he backs efforts to quickly move legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia and Iran that passed the Senate nearly unanimously but was stalled by a procedural issue in the House.

Speaking to reporters, the Wisconsin Republican says "we want to get moving" on the sanctions bill.

"I support sanctions," Ryan told a news conference. He said Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee "is very eager to move this bill," and added, "We honor that."

The measure was written by the Senate, where it passed last week on a 98-2 vote. Now the House must act.

At issue is a constitutional requirement that requires legislation involving revenue to come from the House.

Ryan says the House Foreign Affairs Committee is examining the legislation "to make sure that the bill is written the right way."

Democrats have accused Republicans of stalling the bill at the behest of the Trump administration, which they say wants it weakened.