A Tehran court has held the United States accountable for the massacre of Iranian divers during the Iran-Iraq War, citing U.S. intelligence support to Saddam Hussein that contributed to their capture and deaths. The ruling was made public during a ceremony that honored the fallen divers, emphasizing their suffering while in captivity.
On a significant day, Martyrs’ Day, a Tehran court ruled that the United States bears responsibility for the brutal killing of Iranian divers during the Iran-Iraq War. This ruling was issued by the International Relations Court, which determined that U.S. intelligence was essential to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath regime, leading to the capture, torture, and eventual deaths of Iranian commando divers during Operation Karbala-4.
The Iran-Iraq War, which lasted eight years beginning in 1980, was marked by particularly intense conflicts such as Operation Karbala-4. Captured divers were reported to have been buried alive with their hands bound, and their remains were later uncovered in southern Iraq in 2017. The court’s announcement coincided with a ceremony attended by numerous military and governmental officials, as well as the families of the divers.
During the ceremony, Mohsen Jameh Bozorg, a former captive, recounted the horrific conditions suffered by the Iranian divers, which included a lack of medical care and poor treatment in Iraqi hospitals. Jameh Bozorg detailed the inhumane requests made to them, such as insulting Iranian leaders for basic medical treatment, stating, “We were asked to insult Imam Khomeini to get our bandages changed, a request we refused.”
Motahari, another comrade, elaborated on the intense secrecy surrounding Operation Karbala-4, noting that despite attempts to keep plans hidden, American satellite intelligence was critical in undermining the operation. He commended the divers’ courage amidst the adversities they faced, affirming their resilience against persistent enemy assaults.
The Tehran court’s ruling underscores the historical context of the Iran-Iraq War and the repercussions of foreign involvement in the conflict. With the U.S. deemed responsible for aiding the torture and eventual deaths of Iranian divers, the narrative reaffirms the complex dynamics of international relations during wartime. The accounts from former captives highlight the dire circumstances faced by soldiers and evoke a poignant memory of resilience amidst suffering.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
