Iran has condemned a Canadian judge’s order for Tehran’s non-diplomatic assets in Canada to be handed over to victims of attacks allegedly carried out by Hamas and Hezbollah, groups sponsored by Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jaber Ansari said on June 11 that the ruling “runs contrary to the international commitments of the Canadian government.”
Ansari was quoted by the IRNA news agency as saying the decision by Canada’s Ontario Superior Court “is also contrary to the statements of the new Canadian government that it wants to normalize relations” with Iran.
The Canadian court ruling on June 10 awards about $13 million in non-diplomatic assets, land, and bank accounts in Canada to families of Americans who died in bombings or hostage-takings in Buenos Aires, Israel, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia from 1983 to 2002. Hundreds died in the attacks.
The Canadian court found Iran responsible for training Hamas and Hezbollah operatives, and backing the groups financially.
The ruling mirrors a court victory against Tehran won by terrorist attack victims’ families in the United States earlier this year, which Tehran has strongly denounced and is fighting in international arenas.
Iran did not defend either the U.S. or Canadian lawsuits.
RFERL
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