GC Endorses Majlis Motion for Filing Lawsuits Against U.S.
November 4, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN -- Guardian Council Thursday endorsed the legislation which was approved on Wednesday by the Majlis permitting Iranian victims of U.S. interference to sue the United States for damages in Iranian courts.
It said that the motion passed on an extremely urgent' basis by the Majlis was aimed at preventing further violation of international law and regulations by the governments which ignore the judicial inviolability of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
It said that it is a reciprocal act' to compensate for the material and spiritual damages suffered by Iranian citizens from actions of foreign governments. The Majlis move intended to retaliate against a recent legislation passed by the U.S. Congress to freeze other Iranian assets not already frozen since the Islamic Revolution.
MPs who proposed the motion said that the law passed by the U.S.
Congress is a violation of international law and threatens the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hassan Qashqavi, a member of the Majlis Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy said, "U.S. local courts have awarded judgments on 12 complaints lodged against Iran which provide indemnity to claimants to the amount of 1.2 billion dollars.
" He noted that another 1.5 billion dollars is to be added to the amount. MPs Wednesday gave their final approval to the motion amidst shouts of Down With the U.S.'. The law allows victims of United States interference in Iran following the 1953 coup to file suits against American interests. The 1953 U.S.-backed coup, which deposed nationalist prime minister Mohammed Mossadeq and allowed the pro-Western Shah to seize power, was a sore point long before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that led to the break in relations.
The United States, earlier this year, admitted that it had played a role in that coup and expressed its regret over the affair.
Washington said last week that it would use more than 400 million dollars in Iranian assets still frozen in the United States to secure payment of indemnities amounting to 213 million dollars in favor of eight families awarded indemnity by a court in a class suit against Iran. An official at the Iranian mission in the United Nations told the Washington Post' that Iran does not recognize judgments rendered by U.S. courts.
Iran and the U.S. broke diplomatic ties in 1980 after Muslim students following the late Imam Khomeini's line took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
(IRNA)
It said that the motion passed on an extremely urgent' basis by the Majlis was aimed at preventing further violation of international law and regulations by the governments which ignore the judicial inviolability of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
It said that it is a reciprocal act' to compensate for the material and spiritual damages suffered by Iranian citizens from actions of foreign governments. The Majlis move intended to retaliate against a recent legislation passed by the U.S. Congress to freeze other Iranian assets not already frozen since the Islamic Revolution.
MPs who proposed the motion said that the law passed by the U.S.
Congress is a violation of international law and threatens the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hassan Qashqavi, a member of the Majlis Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy said, "U.S. local courts have awarded judgments on 12 complaints lodged against Iran which provide indemnity to claimants to the amount of 1.2 billion dollars.
" He noted that another 1.5 billion dollars is to be added to the amount. MPs Wednesday gave their final approval to the motion amidst shouts of Down With the U.S.'. The law allows victims of United States interference in Iran following the 1953 coup to file suits against American interests. The 1953 U.S.-backed coup, which deposed nationalist prime minister Mohammed Mossadeq and allowed the pro-Western Shah to seize power, was a sore point long before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that led to the break in relations.
The United States, earlier this year, admitted that it had played a role in that coup and expressed its regret over the affair.
Washington said last week that it would use more than 400 million dollars in Iranian assets still frozen in the United States to secure payment of indemnities amounting to 213 million dollars in favor of eight families awarded indemnity by a court in a class suit against Iran. An official at the Iranian mission in the United Nations told the Washington Post' that Iran does not recognize judgments rendered by U.S. courts.
Iran and the U.S. broke diplomatic ties in 1980 after Muslim students following the late Imam Khomeini's line took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
(IRNA)