Iran's Protest Against US Supreme Court Ruling for $2 Billion Compensation Payment

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the US Supreme Court ruling to pay $2 billion in compensation from Iranian assets to the families of victims of attacks 'linked' to the Islamic Republic, calling it 'theft of property' and 'mocking justice and law,' asserting that it will create 'no rights' for US citizens. According to IRNA, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, who is in New York with the Iranian Foreign Minister, issued a statement on Thursday, April 21, strongly condemning the ruling and deeming it 'contrary to the principles and foundations of international law.' He also stated that the US Supreme Court's ruling is 'a mockery of justice and law' and emphasized that this ruling will create 'no rights' for US citizens. The US Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, April 20, that $2 billion from blocked Iranian assets should be paid to the families of American victims of the 1983 bombings at the US Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut and other attacks 'linked' to the Islamic Republic. Lawyers for Iran's Central Bank had sought a review of the Supreme Court's rulings against its assets in US courts last year. 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 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia that left 19 dead, and other attacks carried out by 'Tehran-linked' militant groups. In his statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also referred to the US Supreme Court ruling as 'theft of Iranian property' and emphasized that 'the responsibility for compensating the damages and paying the imposed compensations on Iran will fall on the US government.' Mr. Jaberi Ansari described this ruling as 'indicative of the continued influence of the US government by circles affiliated with Israel' and 'the continuation of hostile actions' by the US government against the Islamic Republic of Iran. He stressed that this ruling 'will only lead to an increase in the severe distrust of the Iranian government and people towards the hostile policies of the US.' Mr. Jaberi Ansari had previously warned on December 24 that if the Iranian Central Bank's assets were confiscated to pay compensation to the victims of terrorist incidents, the US government would be responsible for compensating Tehran.