The former Iranian president called on Obama to return the $2 billion to Iran rather than use the money to compensate the family members of victims of the 1983 bombing of a Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, an attack blamed on Iran.
The Supreme Court ruled in April that the seized money could be paid out to those families and others who were victimized by other incidents for which Iran is believed to be responsible, but the Iranian government has appealed that decision to the International Court of Justice.
“I passionately advise you not to let the historical defamation and bitter incident be recorded under your name,” Ahmadinejad said in his letter, urging Obama not to distribute the Iranian cash.
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