TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the seizure of 2$ billion from Iranian assets by the U.S. is a “theft” and “legal scandal”.

“The government, on behalf of the Iranian nation, has spared no effort to uphold the nation’s right and will follow this path until reaching a result,” he said during a meeting with the cabinet members.

Deciding for Iran’s assets is “illegal” and runs contrary to international law, he noted.

“Enemies of the Iranian people made efforts to prevent the Iranian nation from their right to enjoy nuclear technology and issued resolutions against Iran at international forums. However, the Iranian people restored their rights by resisting and using their political capability, and today we are at a juncture that all have accepted the Iranian nation’s right to enrich uranium,” he stated.

From a political point of view, Rouhani said, the seizure of Iran’s assets is a “continuation of hostilities against the Iranian people”.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 20 that about 2$ billion of Iran’s frozen 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 Islamic Republic has denied any role in the attack.

The Iranian cabinet has tasked a workgroup, led by the finance minister, to examine the court decision and reclaim Iran’s “rights”. The ministers of foreign affairs, and the heads of the intelligence agency, judiciary and central bank have joined the workgroup.

On Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Switzerland’s ambassador to Tehran over the ruling.

Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic relations since 1979. The Swiss diplomat was summoned to convey Iran’s protest to the Americans.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a foreign adviser to the Supreme Leader, described the court ruling as an act of robbery.

“Iran is insistent on safeguarding its rights and will retrieve the money,” Velayati was quoted as saying. “The way to confront Americans is to resist their ambitions.”

Iran said the U.S. court decision violated international obligations between the two countries, such as a 1955 economic treaty.

According to Press TV, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also called the court ruling a “highway robbery”.

“It is a theft. Huge theft. It is highway robbery. And believe you me, we will get it back,” Zarif told The New Yorker in an interview published on Monday.

Zarif lashed out at the U.S. justice, saying it was the same system which last month held Iran liable for damages in the 9/11 terror attacks.

He was referring to a federal judge in New York who ordered Tehran to pay $11 billion in compensation to families of 9/11 attack victims.

“I have lost every respect for U.S. justice. The judgment by the Supreme Court and the other, even more absurd judgment by a New York circuit court deciding that Iran should pay damages for 9/11 are the height of absurdity,” Zarif noted.

“How would you explain Iran being held accountable for the damages to the victims of 9/11—and others being absolved of any responsibility, those who were actually responsible for it?” he said apparently referring to Saudi Arabia.

“These cases cannot stand in any serious civilized court of law. When a U.S. court condemns Iran for 9/11, it finishes the credibility of the U.S. justice system when it comes to Iran,” he added.

Zarif said the U.S. was setting a bad precedent with such rulings. “People can legislate in other countries to confiscate American assets. Would you be happy with that?”

The foreign minister said, “The United States has committed a lot of crimes against Iranians, against the people of Vietnam, the people of Afghanistan, the people of Iraq.”

“Can they legislate in their own countries that for every collateral damage suffered because of American bombing, for every person who was tortured by the Savak, which was created by the United States, those people can claim money from the United States and go confiscate it? Would you be willing to accept it?”

Zarif said, “The Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States, not the Supreme Court of the world. We’re not under its jurisdiction, nor is our money.”

On Monday, Zarif also said Iran would take the United States to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to retrieve the two billion dollars.

“We hold the U.S. administration responsible for preservation of Iranian funds, and if they are plundered, we will lodge a complaint with the ICJ for reparation,” he said.

NA/PA