A Court in the U.S. Condemns Iran to Pay $63 Million to Amir Hekmati

A court in Washington, D.C., has ordered Iran to pay $63 million in damages to Amir Hekmati. Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine, was imprisoned in Iran for a period and was released two years ago along with several other dual citizens. The 33-year-old has accused Iranian authorities of holding him for four and a half years and torturing him during that time. This Iranian-American citizen was released from Iranian prisons in January 2016 alongside Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter, Saeed Abedini, a pastor, and Nasratollah Khosravi Roudsari. In exchange, the U.S. government agreed to release seven Iranian prisoners in the country. Shortly after, in the spring of 2017, the former Marine filed a lawsuit against Iranian officials for 'torture.' Hekmati was arrested and imprisoned in Iran on charges of 'espionage,' although his family has repeatedly stated that he traveled to Iran to visit his grandmother. The United States has also denied the charges brought against him by the Iranian judiciary. Hekmati's attorney stated, 'No amount of damages can fully heal the violence and inhumane treatment he endured for over five years at the hands of the ruthless Iranians who held him.' Scott Gilbert added that the court's ruling is another step for Hekmati and his family to return to life and 'a light on the realities concerning the Iranian government.' However, since Iran and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, it is highly unlikely that Tehran will accept a court ruling from the U.S. Iran has yet to respond to the Washington court's ruling. Besides Hekmati, Jason Rezaian and his family, as well as Nasratollah Khosravi Roudsari, have also filed lawsuits against Iran. Some Iranian officials have continued to insist on the charges against them after the release of this group of dual citizens, and an Iranian parliament member stated that the United States was supposed to release 20 Iranians in exchange for the freedom of these citizens, which it has not adhered to. On the other hand, U.S. officials have accused Iran of detaining American citizens on baseless charges and using them as leverage to extract concessions or ease sanctions. Several dual citizens, including Baqer and Siamak Namazi, remain detained in Iran, and the U.S. government has repeatedly called for their release.