THE LAW
FOREIGN SOVEREIGN IMMUNITIES ACT
Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (28 U.S.C. § 1605A), Vets, Gold Star families, members and certain contractors of the U.S. armed forces and employees of the U.S. Government may sue Iran for the attacks perpetrated by al-Qaeda and Iranian-backed terrorists in Iraq (from 2004-2011).
Iran provided material support and funding to the terrorists and insurgents, which enabled the terrorist groups to carry out the attacks in Iraq that injured and killed our service members and contractors.
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act allows — and we are seeking — damages in the form of economic damages, solatium, as well as pain and suffering.
THE CASE
PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF IRANIAN-SPONSORED TERRORISM IN IRAQ
“Iran’s . . . support for terrorist groups . . . its efforts to sow violence and undermine stability in Iraq, including lethal support for groups that are directly responsible for hundreds of U.S. Casualties.”
– William Burns, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, July 9, 2008
“Iran also equips terrorists with technology and provides training in extremist ideology and militant techniques.”
– Annual Report, 2005, U.S. Department of State.
IRAN’S TERRORISM IN IRAQ
During the Iraq War, Iran’s extensive support and direction of terrorism in Iraq were widely reported in the media. Numerous military officials, diplomats, and heads of state disclosed Iran’s involvement in killing and injuring U.S. Service Members.
IRANIAN-MADE EFPS
EFP detonations were the most overt manifestations of Iranian influence in the Iraq War. The technology required to manufacture the copper warheads for these deadly weapons is believed to be Iranian, and not available in Iraq.
The Iranian-made EFPs were made of rounded copper and steel. The key component of most EFPs were the precision-made copper disks that formed a molten slug when detonated that penetrated the most hardened armored vehicles.
IRAN’S ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS IN IRAQ
Iran needed and used access to hard cash U.S. dollars to recruit, train, pay salaries and bounties to, and arm terrorists for the purpose of injuring Americans throughout Iraq. Iranian-sponsored terrorism was responsible for more than a quarter of all U.S. casualties during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
– Iran trained, funded, and armed terrorist “special criminal groups” throughout Iraq.
– Iran sponsored other terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, al-Qaeda and Ansar al-Islam, all for the purpose of attacking Americans.
– Iran was the exclusive manufacturer of explosively-formed penetrators (EFPs), advanced rockets and munitions, which were the leading causes of injuries to U.S. and Coalition Forces.
– Records show when and where Iranian-sponsored terrorism occurred in Iraq and how the unique Iranian-made weapons were used.