The US reacted angrily following a Wednesday ruling in which a top UN court ordered the US to lift sanctions on the shipping of humanitarian goods to Iran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the sanctions are a matter of national security, and the US is expected to ignore the ruling.
Iran challenged the sanctions at the World Court, in part citing a 1955 Treaty of Amity between the US and Iran. The US has withdrawn from the treaty after the ruling, saying they should’ve done so long ago.
The court in particular objected to US restrictions on airplane parts, warning the US was significantly threatening civilian aviation safety in Iran and the lives of people who fly.
US Ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra indicated that the US would ignore the ruling on the grounds that the “court has no jurisdiction.” The US has repeatedly condemned the World Court in recent months, in great measure because of the number of lawsuits the US faces at the court.
And this is exactly the reason why fewer and fewer countries will trust the USA in the future. Any agreement or treaty made by the USA can be abrogated by a present or future Administration.
When the UN rules against a country, isn’t this when we are supposed to hope for some military power to invade and benevolently fix everything..?