Iran Sues Trump Regime Over Illegal Sanctions

by Stephen Lendman

On July 16, Iran filed suit against the Trump regime in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for violating provisions of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights between both countries.

At the time, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: "Iran is committed to the rule of law in the face of US contempt for diplomacy and legal obligations." 

The Trump regime "violated and continues to violate multiple provisions" of the 1955 treaty - along with unlawfully pulling out of the JCPOA, an international treaty, unanimously affirmed by Security Council members, making it binding international law.

An ICJ statement announced receipt of Iran's complaint, saying:

"The Islamic Republic of Iran yesterday instituted proceedings against the United States of America before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, with regard to a dispute concerning alleged violations of the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights between Iran and the United States, which was signed in Teheran on 15 August 1955 and entered into force on 16 June 1957…"

No hearings on the lawsuit have been scheduled so far. On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his government began "legal and international measures, one of which is filing a lawsuit against the US in International Justice Court," adding:

"US sanctions are inconsistent with resolutions and their previous commitments, and it is Iran's right to file a lawsuit against the United States in international judicial organs."

Nuclear related sanctions will be reimposed on August 6. Other JCPOA-related sanctions will be reimposed on November 4 - targeting Tehran's energy sector, petroleum related products, and central bank transactions.

In response to Iran's lawsuit, ICJ president Abdulqawi Yusuf sent a letter to US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, saying do "not take any new actions (against Iran) to change the situation."

The Court has no power to enforce its rulings, especially against America, ignoring the rule of law in pursuit of its imperial objectives.

In Nicaragua v. United States (1986), the ICJ ruled against Washington for breaching international law and violating Nicaraguan sovereignty by supporting Contra death squads in the country, along with mining its waters and operating illegally in its airspace.

Washington rejected the ruling, refused to pay damages, falsely claiming the court had no "jurisdiction (or) competence" to render a judgment. 

Iran won't fare any better. Illegal nuclear-related US sanctions will be reimposed in early August, others to follow.

The Trump regime wants Iran's government toppled by disruptively violent color revolution or war.

The latter if launched will be disastrous for the region. During his address last year during the UN General Assembly's session, Trump vilified Iran, disgracefully calling its government "a corrupt dictatorship…whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos" - bald-faced lies, America's agenda, not the Islamic Republic's.

Trump continued his tirade adding "(w)e cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles."

Disruptive US actions against Iran continue. Is declared or undeclared war next?

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