Zarif: Iran Does Not Recognize US Supreme Court Ruling

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated on Thursday, April 21, in New York that Tehran does not recognize the US Supreme Court ruling that confirmed compensation payments from Iranian assets to victims of terrorism. In response to the question from 'IRNA' about whether there would be discussions regarding the Supreme Court ruling during his meeting with the US Secretary of State on Friday, he said: 'As we have stated, we do not recognize this court's ruling, and the US government is well aware of this matter.' Zarif added: 'The US also knows well that any action regarding Iranian assets will hold this country accountable in the future, and these assets must be returned to Iran.' The US Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday, April 20, that US courts can compensate families of victims of terrorist incidents from frozen Iranian assets. According to the Supreme Court ruling, two billion dollars from frozen Iranian assets will be paid to the families of American victims of the 1983 bombings at the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and other 'related' attacks involving the Islamic Republic. This ruling was issued in response to an appeal by lawyers of the Central Bank of Iran. Last year, the lawyers of the Central Bank of Iran requested a review of the rulings issued by American courts against its assets. Over 1,300 Americans have filed lawsuits against the Islamic Republic of Iran seeking compensation for the 1983 suicide bombings in Beirut that resulted in the deaths of 241 Marines, the 1996 bombing at the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that left 19 dead, and other attacks carried out by militia groups 'linked to Tehran.' In this context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday described the US Supreme Court ruling as 'a theft of Iranian assets' and emphasized that 'the responsibility for compensating the damages and paying the imposed compensations on Iran due to this ruling will fall on the US government.' Hossein Jaberi Ansari, who was accompanying the Iranian Foreign Minister in New York, issued a statement condemning this ruling 'strongly' and deemed it 'contrary to the fundamental principles of international law.' He also considered the US Supreme Court ruling as 'mocking justice and law' and emphasized that this ruling 'will not create any rights' for US citizens.