A federal court in Washington, D.C., has ruled that the Islamic Republic of Iran is liable for supporting terrorist attacks that resulted in injuries and deaths of U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan. The decision affects 85 plaintiffs, including injured servicemembers and families of those killed, who sought justice under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). This ruling marks a significant step in holding foreign nations accountable for their support of terrorism against U.S. forces.
The case, Lowell v. Islamic Republic of Iran, Civil Action No. 2025-0931, was presided over by Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan. The court's decision comes after Iran failed to respond to the lawsuit, leading to a default judgment against the country. The ruling grants partial default judgment to ten of the plaintiffs while reserving further proceedings for the remaining claims.
The plaintiffs in this case are 85 U.S. servicemembers who were injured and the families of servicemembers who were killed or injured in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2020. They allege that Iran provided material support to the Taliban, enabling the terrorist group to carry out attacks against U.S. forces. This legal action was initiated in March 2025, but Iran did not respond, leading the court to enter a default judgment against the nation in January 2026.
The court's ruling states, "The Court will hold Iran accountable. For the reasons below, the Court grants partial default judgment to ten of the Plaintiffs and defers adjudication of the remaining issues for further proceedings." The judge emphasized the importance of holding Iran responsible for its actions, despite acknowledging that no amount of damages could truly compensate the plaintiffs for their losses.
In the ruling, Judge Sooknanan noted that the plaintiffs had established their right to relief based on evidence presented, including expert reports and affidavits. The court determined that it had both personal and subject-matter jurisdiction over the case, enabling it to proceed with the claims against Iran. The judge stated, "The Court is persuaded that the procedural requirements for default judgment are met, that it has personal and subject-matter jurisdiction, and that each Plaintiff has established both a right of action and an entitlement to relief."
The court granted default judgment for the ten bellwether plaintiffs, who were involved in five specific attacks, while reserving the claims of the remaining 75 plaintiffs for later evaluation. The court will appoint Special Masters to recommend damages awards for all plaintiffs. The ruling also deferred consideration of additional attacks for which the plaintiffs had not yet sought default judgment.
This ruling has significant implications for future cases involving foreign nations accused of supporting terrorism. It sets a precedent for holding countries accountable under the FSIA, particularly when they provide material support to terrorist organizations. The court's decision reinforces the principle that foreign states can be held liable for their actions that result in harm to U.S. citizens, especially servicemembers.
Moving forward, the plaintiffs will await further proceedings to determine the damages owed to them. The court's decision allows for the possibility of appeals, although it is unclear if Iran will choose to contest the ruling given its previous lack of response in the case. Additionally, there may be related cases pending that involve similar claims against Iran or other nations accused of supporting terrorism.