October Term 2017 · Docket 16-534
Does the terrorism exception allow seizing Iranian embassy property?
Victims seek to seize Iranian embassy assets. Iran claims those assets remain immune from seizure.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Perlin argued Congress overhauled the terrorism exception in 2008.
Mr. Tripp argued Persian artifacts remain immune under section 1609.
Mr. Strauss cited legislative history regarding the precursor statute.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of a 2008 law. The law lets victims sue foreign states for terrorism. It also allows seizing certain property to pay judgments. The dispute centers on whether embassy assets count as seizable property.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
Victims want to seize Iranian embassy assets to satisfy their judgments.
Iran wants to keep its embassy assets immune from seizure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
What each side says
Victims argue the 2008 law comprehensively overhauled immunity rules to close gaps.
Iran argues ancient Persian artifacts remain immune under existing sovereign immunity laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if clients could execute on the embassy.
Justice Ginsburg noted Congress intended to remove specific immunity factors here.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of sovereign immunity for foreign states. It determines which assets victims can seize to recover damages. The outcome shapes future enforcement of terrorism judgments against foreign governments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 13-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.