The U.S. Rejects the Hague Court's Jurisdiction to Lift Sanctions on Iran

On Tuesday, September 6, the United States told judges at the International Court of Justice that the court does not have the jurisdiction to order Washington to lift sanctions against Tehran as requested by Iran. According to AFP, Washington stated that the issue of sanctions against Tehran relates to U.S. national security. Iran claims that Donald Trump, the U.S. President, violated the 1955 Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations and Consular Rights between Iran and the U.S. by withdrawing from the nuclear agreement and reinstating sanctions against Tehran. However, Jennifer Newstead, a lawyer for the U.S. State Department, told the International Court of Justice in The Hague that the court 'does not have jurisdiction to address Iran's claims.' She added that it is the right of the United States to defend its national security and interests, and therefore the 1955 treaty 'cannot be the basis for the court's judgment' in this matter. Previously, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, had also described Iran's referral to the International Court of Justice as an 'abuse' of the court. Pompeo deemed the reinstatement of sanctions against Iran as 'necessary' for 'protecting U.S. national security,' stating, 'Iran's complaint to the court is an attempt to undermine the sovereignty of the United States to take legally based actions.' The process of Iran's complaint against the U.S. for reinstating sanctions began on Monday morning at the International Court of Justice and is expected to last four days. After that, judges will review the claims of both parties, and it may take several months for the International Court to decide whether to accept Tehran's request for a provisional ruling. AFP has reported that the issuance of a final ruling may also take several years. Iran is facing a dire economic situation, with its national currency's value dropping by up to three times in a short period, and the price of the U.S. dollar against it rising from 3,500 tomans to over 10,000 tomans.