World Court Orders in Favor of Iran in US Sanctions Case

Judges at the ICJ, the highest United Nations court, ruled in favor of Iran in a lawsuit against the US for breaching the 1955 Treaty of Amity by re-imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic after pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In the provisional verdict, the judges cited two letters that Iran has sent to the US via the Swiss Embassy about the lawsuit, saying Washington has not responded to the letters and the issue has not been settled diplomatically.

According to the unanimous court verdict, “the United States of America, in accordance with its obligations under the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights, shall remove, by means of its choosing, any territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran of medicines and medical devices, foodstuffs and agricultural commodities, and spare parts, equipment and associated services (including warranty, maintenance, repair services and inspections) necessary for the safety of civil aviation.”

The court ruling also said the US government must “ensure that licenses and necessary authorizations are granted and that payments and other transfers of funds are not subject to any restriction in so far as they relate to the goods and services referred to” in the previous section.

The ICJ, which is based in The Hague and is also known as the World Court, is the United Nations tribunal for resolving international disputes. Iran's filing asks the ICJ to order the United States to provisionally lift its sanctions ahead of more detailed arguments.

Although the ICJ is the highest United Nations court and its decisions are binding, it has no power to enforce them, and countries - including the United States - have occasionally ignored them.