Parliament Representatives' Plan to Mandate Government to Seek Compensation from the U.S.

In another reaction to the confiscation of two billion dollars of Iranian assets, 201 representatives of the Iranian parliament are seeking to pass a law that will obligate the government to take actions to receive compensation from the U.S. for ten actions taken against Iran over the past 63 years. Ibrahim Karami, a representative from Hamadan, announced on Saturday, May 25, in an interview with several news agencies including IRIB, that a double-urgency plan titled 'Obligation of the Government to Pursue Damages from the U.S. Against Iran' will be presented with the signatures of 201 representatives in the open session of parliament on Sunday. According to the text of this plan, the government is required to 'directly or through supporting individuals and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, take necessary actions including legal actions to obtain full compensation' from the U.S. government in ten cases. The 28 Mordad 1953 coup, the Nojeh coup, the Iran-Iraq war, and the attack on Iran's oil platforms during this war are among the cases for which these parliament representatives have accused the U.S. of involvement and demanded compensation from this country. These representatives have also called for compensation from the U.S. for 'espionage' against Iran and 'actions' by Israel, which they claim have been carried out or are being carried out 'with the support or involvement of the U.S.' The Iranian government is also mandated to pursue compensation for 'other actions or events that have occurred or will occur against the Islamic Republic with the support or involvement of' the U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 21 of this year that two billion dollars of Iran's blocked assets in the U.S. should be paid to the families of American victims of several terrorist operations linked to Tehran, including the 1983 bombings at the U.S. Marine Corps headquarters and French soldiers in Beirut, Lebanon's capital. The U.S. government defended the Supreme Court's ruling, stating that it does not conflict with international law. In response, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that Tehran will pursue this matter in an 'international court.' Meanwhile, the parliament representatives in their plan have obligated the Iranian government to take 'reciprocal action' against the confiscation of Iranian assets in the U.S. and to 'pursue' U.S. assets in third countries. According to this plan, 'in cases where the courts of third countries take action to recognize or enforce the rulings of U.S. domestic courts against Iran, the government is required to take appropriate reciprocal action to recognize and enforce the rulings of Iranian domestic courts in those countries or other countries.' Fars News Agency reported on May 5 without detailing that, besides the two billion dollars that have been ordered to be confiscated, 'more than 16 billion dollars' in compensation claims against the Islamic Republic in various cases in the U.S. are still ongoing. The confiscation of two billion dollars from Iran's blocked assets has also become a topic of contention between conservatives and Rouhani's government. Following reports about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, some conservative figures and media, as well as close associates of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, including Mohammad Reza Naqdi, head of the Basij Organization, and Mohammad Nabi Habibi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Coalition Party, have criticized Rouhani's government for its 'optimism' towards the U.S. In contrast, officials from Rouhani's government have described the actions of Ahmadinejad's administration in purchasing U.S. government bonds and not removing these assets after sanctions as 'carelessness,' 'mismanagement,' and a precursor to the confiscation of assets. Akbar Turkan, a senior advisor to Hassan Rouhani, has also called for Iran's judiciary to prosecute officials from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government for purchasing bonds from the U.S. and investing in this 'hostile country.' IRNA reported on April 24, citing 'an informed source in the International Legal Affairs Center of the Presidency,' whose name was not mentioned, that the previous government had purchased 'a quantity of securities through a Luxembourg broker (named Clearstream)' in 2007-2008. According to the mentioned report, this broker 'kept part of these securities in Europe and another part physically at Citibank in the U.S., which allowed American claimants to seize them.' Meanwhile, Shargh newspaper had previously reported, citing 'an informed source,' that European intermediary banks had given Iranian officials 'signals and indications' that the U.S. might block these assets, but these warnings were 'ignored' by the then-government. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office, without denying the purchase of these bonds during his administration, attributed the confiscation of the two billion dollars to the 'weakness' of Rouhani's government on the international stage and the 'arrogance' of American officials. In this context, there are 'protests' from the Non-Aligned Movement against the American court ruling against Iran, political hostage-taking over the two billion dollar compensation, the background and complexities of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the Central Bank's assets, Zarif stating that the seizure of Iranian assets in the U.S. is illegal, and the call for the payment of 'two billion dollars' in compensation from Iran's assets in the U.S.