April 13, 2018 - More than 30,000 deaths occurred as a result of 11,774 terrorist attacks across 94 countries in 2015—a number which was actually down from 2014. Iran has held the top spot as the primary state sponsor of terrorism for more than two decades now, providing equipment, training, and financial support for terrorist groups across the world. Along with Syria and Sudan, Iran has provided money and weapons to Hezbolla, Al Qeada, Ansar al Islam, and Kata’ib Hizballah, to name just a few. Three years ago, BNP Paribas, a French bank, admitted it violated United States sanctions by processing large financial transactions for the country of Iran, a known sponsor of terror.
At that time, BNP paid the U.S. nearly $9 billion; in exchange, the U.S. agreed to delay prosecution (which likely means foregoing prosecution altogether). Today, those harmed by state sponsored terrorism are filing U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act Lawsuits against global banks. The global banks implicated include BNP, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays PLC, HSBC Holding Group PLC, Commerzbank A.G., and Credit Suisse. All of these banks have admitted (and agreed not to dispute the fact), that they conspired with Iran and Iranian banks and entities (many of whom were flagged as “designated nationals” and “global terrorists”) in order to circumvent economic sanctions specifically designed to prevent Iran from sponsoring terrorism. As result, the banks paid money to the U.S. government, in return receiving assurances that criminal prosecution would be “deferred.”
Anti-Terrorism Lawsuits by U.S. Soldiers, Contractors and Their Families
It is undisputed that these banks violated U.S. sanctions which prohibit financial institutions from doing business with anyone who has a track record of financing terrorism and/or money laundering. The monies that were provided to Iran were ultimately used by Iran for:
- The provision of weapons, training, safe haven and money supplied by Iran to its terrorist operatives in Afghanistan and Iraq;
- Despite sanctions, Iran has continued to sponsor terrorism and its uranium enrichment program;
- Iran directed and controlled terrorist organizations in Iraq, specifically coordinating a massive campaign of terrorism against coalition forces, contractors and citizens;
Some of the weapons supplied by Iran to its terror operatives in Iraq included IRAMs (Improvised Rocket Assisted Munitions), EFPs (Explosively Formed Penetrators) and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). IEDs are responsible for as many as 63 percent of coalition deaths occurring from the beginning of the Iraq War through 2007. Iranian factories manufactured both the IEDs and EFPs, or components thereof, which were responsible for the death and injuries of U.S. soldiers and contractors. Those who were injured and killed, along with their families, are now filing state sponsored terrorism lawsuits. There would have been no money to recruit, train, arm and command Shia and Sunni terrorist groups who murdered U.S. soldier and citizen contractors in Iraq without Iran’s illegal conspiracy with global banks.
Should You File a U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act Lawsuit?
Despite the fact Iran was funding terrorists, these global banks continued to do business with Iran, altering documents to hide their actions from United States law enforcement and intelligence agencies. As a result, billions of dollars flowed unchecked to known terrorists, and thousands of acts of terrorism were committed against American soldiers and civilian contractors who were injured or killed in Iraq. If you or a loved one suffered injuries or death in the Iraq War, it could be extremely beneficial to speak to an anti-terrorism lawyer to determine whether your rights were violated and whether you have a valid U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act Lawsuit.