Supreme Court to Review $2 Billion Terrorism-Related Judgments Against Iran

President Reagan and wife Nancy honoring the victims 
of the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut

High court will consider the central bank of Iran’s appeal on frozen assets

The Supreme Court agreed to consider an appeal by Iran’s central bank seeking to prevent terrorism victims from collecting nearly $2 billion in frozen Iranian banking assets.

The appeal was one of 13 new cases the Supreme Court added to its docket Thursday, its first such action since the justices returned from a three-month summer break.

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Flowers, helmets and boots were placed along the Khobar 

Towers Memorial Wall to honor the fallen from the 

bombing that killed 19 military members, including 12 33rd 

Fighter Wing Nomads. 

(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nick Egebrecht)

In the Iran case, the court said it would consider an appeal by Bank Markazi, the nation’s central bank, which held an interest in the frozen funds. The bank is challenging lower U.S. court rulings that allowed the money to be turned over to more than 1,300 American victims or surviving family members who won civil judgments holding Iran liable for sponsoring terrorist attacks.

The attacks included the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian bank argued in its petition to the Supreme Court that Congress acted improperly by passing legislation in 2012 specifically allowing victims to seize the money. The bank argued lawmakers violated the separation of powers by legislating the outcome of a court case.

The victims urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, saying high-court precedent made clear Congress could change the governing law that is applicable to a pending case. ...

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