Iran says it can prosecute U.S.

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TEHRAN, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The Iranian judiciary said Monday that by removing a group from its list of terrorist organizations, the United States opens itself up to lawsuits.

A judiciary spokesman said the U.S. Department of State violated international standards by removing the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization from the list of terrorist organizations that can be legally prosecuted, the Iranian state-run Fars News Agency reported Monday.

The MKO was taken off the list Friday, having its assets under U.S. jurisdiction unfrozen and allowed to do business with American entities, a State Department statement said.

Tehran claims the MKO is behind numerous assassinations and bombings within the country because of its alleged role in helping Iraq in its 1980-1988 war with Iran, the news agency said.

The de-listing was called a "violation of America's legal and international obligations" that "will bring U.S. responsibility for past, present and future terrorist operations by this group," a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.