Iran's Complaint Against the U.S. to Be Heard by the International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice will begin hearing Iran's complaint against the United States regarding the reinstatement of sanctions. The Islamic Republic has filed this complaint based on the 'Treaty of Friendship' from 1955, which an American official has called 'baseless.' Iranian lawyers on Tuesday, during the first hearing session, will ask the International Court of Justice to rule for the lifting of sanctions that the United States has reimposed after withdrawing from the JCPOA. The complaint states that the reinstatement of sanctions violates the 'Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights' signed between Tehran and Washington in 1955 during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah. The U.S. exited the JCPOA on May 8, and the first round of severe sanctions against Iran was implemented on August 5, with the next phase set to take effect on November 4. The U.S. has stated that it aims to reduce Iran's oil exports 'to zero' during this time. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated in late July that Tehran's complaint against the U.S. was due to what he termed 'the illegal re-imposition of unilateral sanctions.' Iran is seeking the lifting of U.S. sanctions and threats, as well as compensation from the United States. A day after these statements, an unnamed U.S. Department of State official told Reuters that 'Iran's request is baseless, and we intend to vigorously defend the United States in the International Court of Justice.' U.S. officials have not yet commented on this case, but it is expected that U.S. government lawyers will argue that the court does not have jurisdiction over this complaint. They may also assert that the 'Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights' is no longer valid or that the sanctions do not violate the terms of this treaty. A formal U.S. response is expected to be presented at the session on August 28. According to AFP, it may take several months for the International Court to decide whether to accept Tehran's request for a provisional ruling, while the announcement of a final decision could take years. The International Court of Justice is based in The Hague and is considered the principal judicial body of the United Nations. Its rulings are binding; however, this body lacks enforcement power, and various countries have sometimes ignored its rulings. The Trump administration accused the Islamic Republic of continuing 'malign activities,' 'supporting terrorism,' or developing its ballistic missile program, both before and after the 'nuclear agreement,' and has called for new negotiations that encompass all of Iran's behaviors and actions. Tehran has denied the accusations of 'supporting terrorism' and interfering in the affairs of regional countries, stating that its missile program is defensive and deterrent. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has stated he is willing to negotiate with Iran without preconditions, although he also mentioned that ultimately the decision rests with Tehran's officials, and if they are not willing to negotiate, he 'does not care.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has prohibited negotiations with the U.S. Since the U.S. exited the JCPOA and the return of sanctions, Iran's economy has faced severe tensions, the national currency has significantly lost its value, the prices of gold and other goods have increased, many large Western companies have left Iran, and a wave of protests has emerged in various cities. U.S. officials say this is the result of the return of sanctions. The leader of the Islamic Republic states that the main problem is internal and related to 'performance.' The Iranian Foreign Minister says 'internal disputes have exacerbated the psychological atmosphere.'