JURIST - Paper Chase: Families of slain Iran scientists sue US, UK, Israel

[JURIST] Families of murdered Iranian nuclear scientists told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that they have filed lawsuits against the US, UK and Israel for their governments' alleged involvements in the assassinations. The father of one of the scientists revealed that the families would ask Iran's judiciary to pursue their complaint internationally. At least five nuclear scientists have been murdered since 2010. Iranian authorities announced earlier this month [AP report] that 14 individuals have given confessions in association with the killings and that some had confessed to being trained in Israel. The US and UK have repeatedly denied involvement in the killing of the nuclear scientists despite their objections to Iran's nuclear program.

Iran's nuclear program remains controversial across the world, as many governments suspect the nation of producing nuclear weapons. In February UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called on Iran to prove its commitment not to seek nuclear weapons after giving remarks [JURIST report] at an event marking the 15th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Earlier that month the US began imposing strict sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear program, although Iran has claimed that its nuclear rights are being taken away [JURIST reports]. The UN has also continued to respond to Iran's nuclear program with caution, with new sanctions being imposed in June 2010, increasing the restrictions placed on Iran from the first set of sanctions in 2006 [JURIST reports].