Iran asked the United Nations on Thursday to intervene with the U.S. government over a Supreme Court ruling that allows nearly $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets to be paid to victims of terrorist attacks, including the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, for which the Middle Eastern country has been blamed.

In a letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Javid Zarif argues that the U.S. court decision will have "catastrophic implications" and "will cause systematic erosion" of the principal of state immunity.

The Syrian encampments are costing Lebanon some $400 million dollars in electricity expenses, ministerial sources told An Nahar daily on Thursday.

The cabinet discussed on Wednesday a suggestion that was brought up by the Energy Ministry to install electricity meters in the Syrian encampments in a bid to trim down illegal connection on power cables which is burdening the Lebanese treasury with significant costs, the sources said.

A survey in 10 countries with significant Muslim populations, including Lebanon, found "striking" differences in the extent to which people believe the Quran should influence a nation's laws.

Possible reasons for these differences include a nation's history and religious composition as well as personal factors such as intensity of religious observance, age and level of education, said the Pew Research Center, which conducted the survey among more than 10,000 Muslims and non-Muslims a year ago. Error margins ranged from 3.4 to 4.3 percentage points.

The cabinet held a regular session on Wednesday to address various issues and approved providing the telecommunications data to all security apparatuses while leaving the decision of giving it to the State Security in the hands of PM Tammam Salam.

“We have requested that all security apparatuses have access to the data including the State Security and Salam has assured us that this will be the case,” said Education Minister Elias Bou Saab after the cabinet session.

The General Security arrested three Syrian nationals for participating in armed attacks against the army and security forces during the 2014 battles in the northeastern border town of Arsal, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Within the framework of tracking down terror groups and sleeper cells, the General Security arrested, based on the public prosecution's command, three Syrians T.G, A.G., and A.Z. on charges of taking part in armed battles in Arsal,” the statement said.

The dead body of a man was found in the parking of a residential building in the eastern city of Zahle, reports said on Wednesday.

Ziad Ayoub al-Qasouf, 40, had sustained gunshot wounds and was found in the parking of the Ramia building where he resides in upper Zahle.

Lebanese banks began taking measures against persons or institutions in accordance to a U.S. law that imposes sanctions on banks that knowingly do business with Hizbullah, banking sources said on Wednesday.

The sources told al-Mustaqbal daily that the measures are being taken on accounts in Lebanese Liras and foreign currencies.

Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri unveiled on Tuesday his list of candidates for the Beirut municipal elections that are scheduled for May 8.

He said during a ceremony: “This list brings together the people of Beirut and we will head to the polls on May 8 and elect it to restore unity to the city.”

The American University of Beirut slammed on Tuesday the clash that erupted on Monday between students affiliated with the Kataeb Party and others affiliated with the Syrian Social National Party.

It underlined the importance of freedom of expression for all sides, “strongly condemned” the violence that broke out on Monday on and off campus.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday the need to resolve the dispute over the parliamentary electoral law, while underlining that legislative sessions can be held irrespective of the developments in the country.

He said during a press conference: “Parliament is entitled to hold a legislative session regardless of the conditions in the country.”