Iran's Judiciary Fines the U.S. $420 Million for Operation Eagle Claw to Free American Hostages

The Islamic Republic's judiciary, through the Mizan news agency, reported that the 55th branch of the Tehran International Relations Court has ordered the U.S. government to pay damages for the execution of Operation Eagle Claw in 1980. According to the report, the judiciary has condemned the U.S. government to pay $140 million (equivalent to $10 million for each of the 13 plaintiffs) due to a lawsuit filed by survivors of the incident and one of the hostages taken during the operation. Additionally, the court has ordered the U.S. government to pay double the material and moral damages, amounting to $280 million, as well as compensation for 'delayed payment' from the date of the ruling until its execution, and has sent the ruling to the 'relevant authorities' for enforcement. The rescue operation for American hostages in Iran took place on April 24, 1980, by U.S. special forces. The aim of the operation was to free 52 American hostages who had been taken captive by Iranian students at the U.S. embassy in Tehran since November 4, 1979. During this operation, eight helicopters and two C-130 aircraft of the U.S. Air Force landed in the Tabas desert in southern Iran. However, due to a sandstorm, two helicopters collided and caught fire. In this incident, eight American servicemen were killed and five others were injured. Following this incident, the U.S. forces canceled the operation and withdrew from the area. This operation, known as 'Eagle Claw,' is considered one of the greatest military failures in U.S. history. The U.S. has stated that the Islamic Republic remains the 'main supporter of terrorism' in the world.