US ordered to pay $48bn over killing of Iranian commander Soleimani

An Iranian court has ordered the United States government to pay $48 billion in damages over the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

According to Iran International, judiciary spokesman Ali Kazemi said the ruling has entered the enforcement stage, while 73 people are being pursued in connection with the case.

Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad in January 2020, an operation ordered by then-US President Donald Trump that sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

“This case is being pursued seriously, both in its civil and criminal aspects, to reach a conclusion,” Kazemi said.

The court ruling comes as Iran and the US continue indirect contacts through mediators over a possible agreement to end hostilities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Qatar was facilitating discussions on Tehran’s conditions, including sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Trump denied reports that he had offered Iran sanctions relief or access to frozen funds.