ICJ Rejects US Objections to Iran Challenge of Sanctions Regime

The International Court of Justice threw out U.S. objections to Iran's case against the U.S.'s extensive sanctions regime that say this case is outside the court's scope. In a Feb. 3 decision, the ICJ rejected the U.S. notions that the court didn't have jurisdiction over matters of trade or transactions between Iran and third countries and of the underlying treaty in which Iran staked its claim. Iran claims that the 2018 U.S. decision to reimpose sanctions violates the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights. It brought its case to the ICJ following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and reimpose sanctions. The ICJ decision cannot be appealed and will lead to the court hearing Iran's main claim on the merits next.

“We have great respect for the International Court of Justice. At the same time, we are disappointed that the court did not accept our well-founded legal arguments, that the case Iran brought is outside the court's jurisdiction, and the court should not hear it,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing.