The US Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to decide on a legal battle over whether Persian artifacts in Chicago museums can be seized as compensation for victims of a bombing attack in Israel, AFP reported.
The court will have the final word in the more than decade-long saga between Iran and five US citizens, who blame Iran for its support of resistance group Hamas.
The last decision in the case favored Tehran: a federal appeals court in Chicago ruled that the artifacts being kept at the Field Museum and at the University of Chicago were immune to seizure.
The case stems from a 1997 suicide bombing in Beit-ul- Moqaddas that was carried out by Hamas.
Five US citizens injured in the attack won a $71.5 million civil judgment against Iran because it allegedly provided material support and training to Hamas.
Among the artifacts were a collection of 2,500-year-old clay tablets bearing ancient cuneiform script which have been in the care of the University of Chicago since the 1930s.
The issue will be heard by the US Supreme Court in its next annual session beginning in October.
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