A court in Iran on Thursday ordered the United States government to pay over $4 billion to the families of Iranian nuclear scientists who have been killed in targeted attacks in recent years, state-run media reported.
The largely symbolic ruling underscores the escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, with negotiations to restore the tattered atomic accord at a standstill.
Although Tehran has blamed Israel in the past for slayings targeting Iranian nuclear scientists since a decade ago, Iran did not directly accuse its arch-foe Israel in its announcement. Iran has not recognized Israel since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted the pro-West monarchy and brought Islamists to power.
The court mentioned Israel only in saying the U.S. supported the “Zionist regime” in its “organized crime” against the victims.
It’s unclear how the court decision, like a raft of previous Iranian cases against the U.S. as the two sides have engaged in a spiraling escalation of threats, would gain traction; there are no American assets to confiscate in the Islamic Republic.
Still, the court branch, which is dedicated to the review of Iranian complaints against the U.S., summoned 37 former American officials, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as well as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Iran envoy Brian Hook and former Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed tough economic sanctions on Iran that severed most of its oil revenues and international financial transactions.
President Joe Biden wanted to return to the accord, but talks have stalled in recent weeks over America’s designation of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, Iran is enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under decreasing international oversight. Earlier this month, Iran removed 27 surveillance cameras of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency in what its director warned could deal a “fatal blow” to the nuclear accord.
The families of three nuclear scientists who had been killed in targeted slayings, along with one nuclear scientist wounded in an attack, filed the lawsuit in Tehran, the country’s state-run IRNA news agency reported, without identifying the plaintiffs. The court ordered that the U.S. pay $4.3 billion in total compensation, including fines.
Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war across the Middle East and its waters. That conflict has escalated with the recent suspected targeted killings of Iranian nuclear scientists and military officials. In late 2020, Iran blamed Israel for killing its top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, with a remote-controlled machine gun while he was traveling in a car outside Tehran.
Iran also has placed sanctions on prominent American political and military officials for alleged “terrorism” and “human rights violations,” in retaliation for the U.S. assassination of Iran’s top commander, Qassem Soleimani, two years ago.
(AP)
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6 Responses
They certainly highly value their scientists
I doubt that US takes the kangaroo court in Iran seriously. Yet, the closet terrorists of the Squad are apt to buy into this wholesale garbage. I would noit be surprised to see this item included in a budget proposal in Congress. So, for me, the dog has barked once again, and this is not news. What is relevant is that the Biden administration is giving tacit approval and endorsement to Iran having nuclear weapons. That is cause for worry. In America, we need to everything possible to keep these true enemies (Democrats) away from public office.
Don’t laff Joe Biden will probably send every penny in cash in middle of the night!
Why is it a “largely symbolic ruling”, won’t Biden pay up? Don’t be surprised…
Do you see how the Iranians are exacting a bill?
These folks are not idiots like our government.
Here is how works.
Their court rule on 4 Billions.
That goes on the US tab and come negotiations their starting point is 4 Billions PLUS what US had withheld from Shah time which Barak Hussine Obama has already gave billions in the dark of the night on pallets in unmarked planes which he had to empty out all cash reserves of NY and Northeastern banks.
The US must irrevocably announce that there is no legitimate claim and no proof and therefore another rounds of sanctions.
After they pay the Flato family for Alyssa’s death. They were sued and a judgment rendered for them to pay to the parents. Did they?