TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that the U.S. is “well aware” that Iran “does not recognize” a ruling by the U.S. Supreme court that almost $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be turned over to American families of people killed in the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and other attacks blamed on Iran.

The U.S. is well aware that it should be held accountable if it takes any action regarding Iran’s property, Zarif told IRNA in an interview published on Friday.

Zarif added that the U.S. should return Iran’s properties.

Foreign Ministry: U.S. Supreme Court ruling is ‘theft’

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari also on Thursday condemned the U.S. court’s ruling, calling it “theft” from Iran’s properties.

Jaberi Ansari said that the ruling runs against “international law”.

“The ruling shows that the U.S. government is still influenced by the Zionist circles and is taking hostile actions against Iran which will only lead to increase in the Iranian government and people’s distrust in the U.S. hostile policies,” he stated.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi has also called the ruling an instance of international “banditry”.

Central bank: Court ruling not in conformity with the spirit of nuclear deal

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) issued a statement on Friday saying the ruling is not related to the nuclear deal, however it is not in harmony with the spirit of the agreement.

Hamid Ghanbari, director the bank’s department for legal investigations, said such a ruling is proving that the U.S. is one of the most unsafe countries in holding foreign currency reserves.

“The United States, with this decision, has shown itself as one of most unsafe countries in keeping foreign currency reserves of other countries,” Ghanbari stated.

He added the ruling is against international law and even the U.S. legal system.

NA/PA