Applicants should be aware that international law establishes a general limitation on the time allowed for bringing claims arising under international law. During fiscal year 1999, the Office of the Legal Adviser assisted hundreds of U.S. claimants in claims before the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal, the U.N. Compensation Commission, and others, including foreign domestic institutions open to U.S. claimants. Moreover, hundreds of millions of dollars were awarded to U.S. claimants during fiscal year 1999 by the Iran U.S. Tribunal and the U.N. Compensation Commission against Iran and Iraq respectively. It is estimated that several hundred million dollars more will be awarded in fiscal years 2000 and 2001. Section 3 of Article II of the Constitution of the United States delegates powers and duties to the President upon which the authority to act is based and transferred to the Secretary of State.
International law defines the levels of appropriate compensation.
A claim may result from any one of a number of situations in which a United States national has been injured by a foreign government in violation of international law. In very limited situations, the United States government may espouse a claim. When a claim is espoused, it becomes the claim of the United States, which the United States may pursue or settle at its discretion.