Iran Dismisses US Court Ruling on 9/11 Payout as Ludicrous
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry 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.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari slammed the court ruling as the latest case of “blind obedience to the Zionist scenarios” to foment Iranophobia.
The ruling is so ridiculous that questions the basics of justice and also taints the credibility of the US justice system, he added.
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.
He also decried the US administration for aid and abet in such rulings, deploring the US Department of State’s “illogical, wrong and immoral” decision to put Iran on the list of supporters of terrorism.
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.
On Wednesday, US District Judge George Daniels in New York issued a default judgment against Iran for $7.5 billion to the estates and families of people who died at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. It includes $2 million to each estate for the victims’ pain and suffering plus $6.88 million in punitive damages.
Daniels also awarded $3 billion to insurers including Chubb Ltd. that paid property damage, business interruption and other claims.
Earlier in the case, Daniels found that Iran had failed to defend claims that it aided the September 11 hijackers and was therefore liable for damages tied to the attacks.
