‘They sent us missiles, we sent them a bill’: Bat Yam mayor serves Iran with $78 million lawsuit

Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot traveled to New York to personally serve Iran with a $78 million lawsuit seeking compensation for damage caused by Iranian missile strikes during the 2025 war, known in Israel as Operation Rising Lion.

The coastal city just south of Tel Aviv suffered 9 deaths, 178 injuries and damage to approximately 160 buildings from Iranian missile strikes.

In an unusual move, Brot tracked down an Iranian diplomat at the United Nations in New York to serve the Islamic Republic with the lawsuit.

“Bat Yam has an open account with Iran and that is why we called the operation that,” Brot said. “They sent us missiles and we sent them a bill. Their representative may have tried to get away from us on the streets of New York, but they will not escape responsibility for what they did to my city,” the Israeli mayor vowed.

The Iranian diplomat initially invoked diplomatic immunity and attempted to walk away. However, Brot and his associates continued following him through Manhattan while reading the legal documents aloud as part of their effort to complete the service process.

An international legal team led by the organization Shurat HaDin is handling the lawsuit, which targets the Iranian regime and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

“It is time for the Iranians to pay for their actions. We will continue fighting on behalf of terror victims until we economically bring down the ayatollahs’ regime,” pledged senior attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, who headed the legal team.

Iran now has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit. If Tehran fails to submit a defense, the Bat Yam municipality could request a default judgment. However, collecting any potential award could require additional legal proceedings.

Bat Yam officials are reportedly looking to a disputed $1.1 billion debt Israel owes Iran as a potential source of compensation. The debt stems from an arbitration ruling involving the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC). The municipality hopes a favorable court judgment could allow it to secure a portion of the frozen funds.

Last December, Brot publicly urged Bat Yam residents to remain vigilant against Iranian efforts to recruit Israelis to spy on behalf of Tehran.

"The Shin Bet met with the local government and informed them that there is a general problem. The Iranians are no longer hiding, but are contacting everyone by phone. One per thousand percent is enough – and they manage to recruit," Brot warned, referring to Tehran’s efforts to recruit Israeli citizens to spy against the Jewish state.

"We know that there are also residents of Bat Yam who, these very days, are maintaining such contacts," Brot continued, without providing details.

The mayor emphasized that residents who cooperate with Iran are "endangering not only Israel’s security but also their personal future."