In Tehran, a court has ordered the U.S. government and 41 individuals, which includes former President Donald Trump, to pay a total of $49 billion in response to the assassination of top Iranian Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.
This verdict stems from a lawsuit filed by 3,318 Iranians seeking accountability from U.S. officials for the comprehensive damages—both material and spiritual—resulting from the assassination of the esteemed military figure.
The Tehran court, specialized in international disputes, rendered this decision after three public hearings, citing Iranian laws specifically aimed at countering U.S. terrorism directed towards Iran and its citizens. Tehran Times reported this major development on Thursday.
The sentence not only demands a substantial financial penalty but also requires a public apology from both the U.S. government and the implicated individuals for their role in the crime.
Among those held accountable is Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State under Trump’s administration.
General Soleimani, highly revered as an anti-terror figure throughout West Asia, gained widespread admiration for leading the charge against Daesh terrorists in Iraq and Syria during the 2010s.
His assassination occurred during a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020.
Republicans block $110 billion US aid for Israel and Ukraine
Meanwhile,
An emergency spending bill aimed at allocating billions of dollars in new security assistance for Ukraine and Israel faced a setback in the U.S. Senate today.
The impasse occurred as Republicans insisted on more stringent measures to address immigration concerns along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The vote resulted in 49 senators in favor and 51 against, falling short of the required 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to initiate debate.
This development poses a challenge to President Joe Biden’s efforts to deliver new aid before the conclusion of 2023, as the proposed $110 billion package failed to gain sufficient support.
The vote strictly followed party lines, with all Senate Republicans opposing the bill, along with Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who generally aligns with Democrats but had reservations regarding funding for Israel’s “current inhumane military strategy” against Palestinians.
The proposed legislation sought to allocate approximately $50 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine, alongside funds for humanitarian and economic aid to the government in Kyiv.
