<p>A federal court in Virginia issued a civil judgment against the Iranian and North Korean governments in September 2026 for their roles in sponsoring terrorism that resulted in the deaths and injuries of Americans.</p>
<p>The court ruled that the two countries owe over $486 million for seven terrorist attacks that occurred between 2019 and 2023, according to Judge Leonie Brinkema, who was appointed by President Clinton. This decision benefits 47 plaintiffs, including U.S. nationals who were either injured in these attacks or are family members of those who were killed.</p>
<p>The plaintiffs filed their lawsuit against Iran and North Korea in April 2025 under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which permits legal action against foreign governments for terrorism. The ruling noted that neither Iran nor North Korea responded to the lawsuit in court.</p>
<p>The lawsuit detailed attacks in the Middle East and Africa from 2019 to 2023 involving Islamic groups such as al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which targeted U.S. military personnel and civilians, as indicated in court records.</p>
<p>Requests for comment from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and North Korea’s mission to the United Nations went unanswered.</p>
<p>The United States currently lacks a definitive mechanism to enforce payment of damages awarded to victims by foreign nations. The U.S. has been engaged in military conflict with Iran for approximately seven months, with peace negotiations ongoing.</p>
<p>The most recent attack referenced in the lawsuit was the invasion of Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which was supported by Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Iranian government. This operation resulted in over 40 American fatalities and included the kidnapping of 12 American hostages, some of whom died while in captivity.</p>
<p>Among the plaintiffs, Bernadette and Nir Brauner reported suffering severe injuries and trauma during the October 7 attacks while visiting family in Israel.</p>
<p>The lawsuit alleges that North Korea provided essential support to the terrorist groups involved in these attacks through financial assistance and training, as stated by the plaintiffs, who cited U.S. agencies.</p>
<p>In addition to the seven attacks mentioned, the lawsuit aimed to highlight the broader history of support for anti-American violence by both regimes.</p>
<p>According to the complaint, "Iran was the but-for cause of every al-Qaeda attack since 2001." The plaintiffs referenced a private letter from Osama bin Laden, which was released by the U.S. after his death in 2011, indicating that al-Qaeda's survival depended on Iran's support.</p>
<p>The judgment on September 8, 2026, follows over a decade of U.S. court decisions that have held Iran partially responsible for the September 11 attacks due to its support for al-Qaeda. The U.S. government has consistently identified Iran as a leading state sponsor of terrorism and has designated North Korea as such multiple times since 1988.</p>