Iran told to pay $63.5m

IRAN must pay $63.5 million to a former US Marine who was jailed in that country for more than four years, according to a ruling by a US judge announced yesterday.

Judge Ellen Huvelle of the US District Court in Washington on Friday granted Amir Hekmati’s motion for a default judgment after Iran failed to respond to the complaint.

Mr Hekmati, who was released in January 2016 as part of a prisoner exchange, alleged he was falsely imprisoned and tortured. It’s unclear if he will get any of the money, which consists of economic and punitive damages as well as those for “pain and suffering”.