Alwaght-Iran has rejected a United States court ruling in which $2bn in frozen Iranian funds will be given to families of victims of 1983 Beirut blast.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Hussein Jaberi Ansari reacted to the ruling on Thursday by stating that, "such a verdict is a theft of the assets and properties of the Islamic Republic of Iran." The ruling has mocked [international] law,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added.
The US Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that almost $2bn in frozen Iranian assets must be turned over to American families of people killed in the 1983 bombing of a US Marine Corps barracks in the Lebanese capital of Beirut and other attacks blamed on Iran.
The assets belong to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), which has been blocked under US sanctions.
Jaberi Ansari noted that the US government should compensate for any damages inflicted on Iran as a result of the ruling.
He further warned that such moves increase the distrust between Tehran and Washington.
In 2012, the US Congress passed a law that specifically directed the US-based Citibank to turn over the Iranian assets to families of victims of the Beirut bombing.
Iran argues that Congress is intruding into the business of federal courts over the case. Tehran has over the years categorically rejected claims of its involvement in the 1983 Beirut bombing.
In mid-March this year, Iran also derided as “ridiculous and nonsense” a default judgment issued by a US court holding that Tehran should pay more than $10.5 billion in damages to families of people killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to a group of insurers.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jaberi Ansari slammed the court ruling as the latest case of “blind obedience to the Zionist scenarios” to foment Iranophobia.
Jaberi Ansari said such court orders give terrorists and their supporters “a very dangerous and meaningful message” that they can easily kill people in the US and elsewhere, because not only can they escape the consequences, but also their most influential enemies, like Iran, will be targeted for those crimes.
Although these “unjust rulings” are apparently against the Iranian nation and government, a logical and fair view demonstrates that the interests and rights of American people and families of the 9/11 victims are being trampled underfoot, the spokesman added.
