The UN’s top court on Thursday ruled that the US violated international law by freezing assets owned by Iranian companies.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Washington to pay compensation to Tehran, but the amount has yet to be determined, and the court has no way of enforcing its rulings.
Iran brought the case to the ICJ, seeking to unlock $1.75 billion in frozen central bank funds. However, the court ruled the central bank funds were outside of its jurisdiction.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the verdict “shows once again the legitimacy” of Iran’s positions and the “illegal behavior of the United States.” But since the court said it did not have jurisdiction over the frozen funds, the US also took the ruling as a victory.
“This is a major victory for the United States and victims of Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism,” said Rich Visek, the acting legal advisor of the State Department. He said the “vast majority of Iran’s case” was related to the frozen central bank funds.
Iran brought the case to the ICJ in 2016 and said by freezing assets to compensate victims of terror attacks Washington claims were linked to Tehran, the US violated a 1955 treaty of friendship, known as the Treaty of Amity, that was signed following the 1953 CIA-backed coup in Iran.
The Trump administration withdrew from the Treaty of Amity in 2018, but the court said the US still violated the agreement because it was a party to the treaty when the funds were frozen. “The court has concluded the United States violated its obligations under … the treaty of amity,” an ICJ judge said.
The court ruled the central bank funds were outside of its jurisdiction because only commercial enterprises were protected by the treaty.
The theft of other nations’ money undermined the dollar as the world currency. Particular harmful for US financial system’s reputation was the theft of Russian assets in February 2022. It became clear to all the world that money invested in US and EU are not safe.
Not that it matters for U.S. But when the world court turns on U.S., you know the end is nigh.
The theft, whether by sanctions or other methods goes against the 4th and 5th Amendments of the Constitution. It is theft from “persons” as described in the Constitution.
And will it make a difference ? , NO.
Its the first time I have heard of the International Court of Justice. So Syria could indict the US for illegally occupying part of its country.
It’s probably too late to do much. But if a treaty has been ratified by the Senate, no president should be able to revoke it without the same standard of consent of the Senate needed to approve it.
Trump put the entire world in grave danger when he destroyed the INF Treaty. He also put the future of our Constitutional government by setting new precedents in seizing control from the Legislature that will be (and have already been) used by the Executive Branch to seize even more power.
I assume that Biden will ignore the International Court of Justice, even while insisting the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court must be enforced by all nations who have ratified the court (even though the US has not).
Here’s a brilliant report by Ben Norton about the ICC, and why it is a toothless tiger.
Perhaps antiwar could repost it….
The ICJ is a part of the UN, and a much more respected court than the Empire ICC. The US actually signed a treaty respecting the ICJ, but of course you know how we respect treaties….
Where I grew up we say the US stole -not the US froze.
I have some old friends who came over right after the coup in the 50’s.
I wonder if they are going to get any money back?
They are likely as Schiff out of luck as my Cuban friends are that came over in the 60’s.