Government Quashes Lawsuit Against Anti-Iran Nonprofit

The Justice Department moved Friday to shut down a private defamation suit against a prominent advocacy group seeking tougher sanctions against Iran, saying that allowing the case to go forward would lead to disclosures that could jeopardize national security, writes The New York Times. Greek businessman Victor Restis sued United Against Nuclear Iran, seeking access to its donor list and other records, after the nonprofit accused him of doing business with Iran.

The government intervened in the case earlier this year, temporarily blocking the disclosures. Justice said that the information at issue and the basis for invoking the so-called state-secrets privilege cannot be identified without creating a security risk. Abbe D. Lowell, an attorney for Mr. Restis, said there is “no precedent” for invoking the state-secrets privilege to quash a suit that does not involve government activity.