Iran goes to UN’s highest court over US sanctions

The Hague, Netherlands — Iran is going to the United Nations’ highest court in a bid to have U.S. sanctions lifted.

Iran filed the case with the International Court of Justice in July, claiming that sanctions the Trump administration imposed on May 8 breach a 1955 bilateral agreement known as the Treaty of Amity that regulates economic and consular ties between the two countries.

At hearings starting Monday, Tehran is asking judges at the world court to suspend sanctions to protect Iranian interests while the case is being heard — a process which can take years.

The Iranian case comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s announcement in May that he would pull the United States out of a 2015 agreement over Iran’s nuclear program and would reimpose sanctions on Tehran.   /vvp