Canadian Court Rules for Compensation from Iran's Non-Diplomatic Assets

A court in Canada ruled that $13 million from Iran's non-diplomatic assets in the country should be paid to the families of American victims of 'terrorist' attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas. According to a report by the National Post on Friday, the Ontario court rejected the arguments of Iran's defense lawyers in this case, which was held in January, and held the country responsible for the terrorist actions of groups it supports. Judge Glennon Hany wrote in his ruling: 'Terrorism is one of the greatest threats to the world.' The Ontario court further stated: 'The question before the court is whether the Iranian government can claim immunity in Canadian courts due to its support for terrorism.' According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Ontario court ruled that $13 million from Iran's non-diplomatic assets should be paid as compensation to the families of American victims of kidnappings and attacks in Argentina, Israel, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia between 1983 and 2002. This ruling was issued based on the new 'anti-terrorism' law in Canada enacted in 2012. Like the United States, Canada recognizes Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. This ruling comes two months after a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that ordered $2 billion from Iran's frozen assets to be paid to the families of American victims of the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut and other attacks related to Iran. The main issue in this legal case was that the U.S. Congress, in 2012, passed a law allowing $2.65 billion from Iran's frozen assets in the U.S. to be paid to the families of victims, interfering with the review and ruling process of federal courts. More than 1,300 Americans have filed lawsuits against the Islamic Republic of Iran seeking compensation for the 1983 suicide attacks in Beirut that killed 241 Marines, the 1996 terrorist bombing at the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that left 19 dead, and other attacks carried out by militia groups linked to Tehran. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. Congress has repeatedly changed laws to facilitate lawsuits against state sponsors of terrorism. U.S. courts have consistently ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. However, the Islamic Republic of Iran has refused to comply with U.S. court rulings, prompting the plaintiffs' lawyers to target Iran's assets in the United States.