October 03, 2018•Update: October 03, 2018
By Merve Aydogan
ANKARA
The United Nations’ highest court on Wednesday ordered the U.S. to lift sanctions that might hurt imports of humanitarian goods or services or adversely affect the safety of civil aviation.
In The Hague, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Iran, ordering the U.S. “remove, by means of its choosing, any impediments arising from” the re-imposition of sanctions on medicines and medical devices, foodstuffs and agricultural commodities, and spare parts, equipment, and associated services needed for the safety of civil aviation.
The ruling is binding on the U.S., but the Trump administration has questioned the authority of such international institutions. Washington will likely appeal the ruling.
For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif hailed the court ruling.
The ruling is “another failure for sanctions-addicted USG [U.S. government] and for rule of law. Imperative for community to collectively counter malign US unilateralism,” Zarif tweeted.
In May, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew his country from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations -- the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany.
He later reinstated U.S. sanctions on Tehran, which had been under the terms of the agreement in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear energy program.
The sanctions are expected to impact Iranian oil exports, which provide Tehran with the revenue needed to finance its national budget.
European Union countries along with Turkey condemned Trump’s action, vowing to find ways to bypass the re-imposed sanctions.
