Iran's UN Representative: US Sanctions Violate International Law

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations states that US sanctions against Iran are a "clear violation" of international law and that the international community has a duty to stand against this lawlessness. Gholamali Khoshroo, in an article published on Wednesday, August 8, on the British Guardian website, notes that the United States, by withdrawing from the JCPOA, has not only violated a UN Security Council resolution but is also punishing countries that adhere to it. For the first time in UN history, the United States - a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power - intends to punish nations around the world, not for violating the Security Council resolution but for being committed to it. Khoshroo emphasizes that helping to establish normal economic and trade conditions in Iran is an "essential part" of the nuclear agreement, adding that the Trump administration is targeting countries that are trying to reintegrate Iran into the economic arena in line with this agreement. The first round of sanctions against Iran, which had been suspended after the nuclear agreement, was reactivated by an executive order from Donald Trump at 8:30 AM on August 7, Tehran time. Following the reactivation of the sanctions, Trump warned on Twitter that "anyone doing business with Iran will not be doing business with the United States." On the same day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the country’s allies to "continuously stop funding the Iranian leaders." However, Khoshroo states that "the international community must stand against this international intimidation and disrespect for the legal order" and should not yield to "irresponsible actions" and demand accountability from anyone who violates the law, confronting "this lawlessness and humiliation of the rule of law." In this regard, a senior EU foreign policy official has stated that the EU encourages companies and traders to increase exchanges with Iran, deeming it essential for maintaining the nuclear agreement, international security, and the treaty against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Despite the emphasis of other members of the 5+1 on preserving the JCPOA, many foreign companies have expressed doubts about the sustainability of their business cooperation with Iran, and some have decided to leave Iran. Khoshroo asserts that the Trump administration must be held accountable for its violations of commitments regarding the JCPOA and for the irreparable damages it has caused to Iran and its international trade relations. He warns that the Trump administration's "reckless and threatening" behavior opens the door to hostile consequences and adds that the administration must be accountable for its violations of commitments regarding the JCPOA, which are clearly contrary to the UN Charter and international law, as well as for the irreparable damages caused to Iran and its international trade relations. Trump had previously stated that he was willing to negotiate with Iran without preconditions. The US State Department has also emphasized Washington's willingness to negotiate with Iran, stating that the United States seeks Tehran's commitment to make fundamental changes in its behavior. However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have separately criticized the "insincerity" of the US, expressing distrust in the US for negotiations. Khoshroo also described the US withdrawal from the JCPOA as a "disaster for multilateral diplomacy," which he claims will leave a "deep wound" on the credibility of diplomatic efforts for a long time. The Iranian representative at the UN stated that the US decisions regarding the JCPOA indicate that the Trump administration is seeking "confrontation" rather than "cooperation" and is using "the logic of force" instead of "the force of logic."