TEHRAN: An Iranian court has ruled that the United States (US) must pay $330 million in damages to survivors and victims of the failed Nojeh coup plot in Iran, which aimed to overthrow the Islamic Republic in 1980. The verdict was reached following a legal complaint filed against the US authorities by victims of the coup and seven other defendants.
During the trial, legal representatives and survivors presented their cases, resulting in the court finding the US government guilty of causing both material and moral damages to the plaintiffs. The court ordered the US administration to pay $30 million in compensation to the victims, along with an additional $300 million in punitive damages.
The Nojeh coup plot, also known as Operation Neqab, was orchestrated by insurgents stationed at the Nojeh Air Base near Kabudrahang in Hamedan province in an attempt to seize control of military bases and target strategic centers and the leaders of the Islamic Revolution. Despite their efforts, the coup was thwarted.
The $330 million fine includes $30 million designated for compensation to the families of individuals martyred in the coup attempt, aimed at alleviating financial and mental damages. The remaining $300 million stands as punitive compensation.
The ruling, issued by an international branch of the Tehran Justice Department, was based on a lawsuit filed by survivors and victims of the coup plot against the United States and seven other defendants.
Previous Ruling By a Court in Iran
This decision follows a previous court ruling in Tehran, where the US government, former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, and other leaders were ordered to pay around $313 million in compensation to the families of victims of a 2017 twin terrorist attack in Tehran carried out by the Daesh terror group.
The court’s rationale for holding the US accountable lies in statements made by high-ranking US officials about their government’s involvement in organizing and directing terrorist groups, along with reliable news reports and information published in US media. The court also cited US officials’ speeches and writings on the role of the CIA in creating terrorist organizations.
The ruling aims to prevent further violations of international law by the United States and its support for terrorist attacks that result in innocent lives lost and financial damages to their families.
In June 2017, Iran’s Parliament and the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum in Tehran were targeted in terrorist attacks, resulting in the deaths of 17 people and injuries to nearly 50.
