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ICJ rules US illegally froze Iran’s assets

In a partial victory for Iran, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ruled Washington had illegally allowed courts to freeze assets of some Iranian companies and ordered the United States to pay compensation but left the amount to be determined later.

However, in a blow for Tehran, the ICJ said it did not have jurisdiction over US$1.75 billion (59.8 billion baht) in frozen assets from Iran’s central bank.

Acting Legal Adviser Rich Visek of the US State Department said in a written statement that the ruling rejected the “vast majority of Iran’s case”, notably where it concerned the assets of the central bank.

“This is a major victory for the United States and victims of Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism,” Mr Visek added.

On its Twitter account, Iran’s foreign ministry claimed victory, saying the decision was proof of Iran’s “righteousness and the violations by the US government”.

The ruling comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran after tit-for-tat strikes between Iran-backed forces and US personnel in Syria last week. Relations have been strained after attempts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers stalled, and as Iranian drones are being used by Russia against Ukraine.

The case before the ICJ, also known as the World Court, was initially brought by Tehran against Washington in 2016 for allegedly breaching a 1955 friendship treaty by allowing US courts to freeze assets of Iranian companies. The money was to be given in compensation to victims of terrorist attacks. The

Islamic Republic denies supporting international terrorism.

The 1950s friendship treaty was signed long before Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which toppled the USbacked shah, and the subsequent severing of US-Iranian relations.

Washington finally withdrew from the treaty in 2018. Nonetheless, the ICJ ruled that it was in place at the time of the freezing of the assets of Iranian commercial companies and entities.

“The court has concluded the United States violated its obligations under ... the treaty of amity,” presiding judge Kirill Gevorgian said. He added that Iran was entitled to compensation and the parties had 24 months to agree on an amount.

WORLD

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2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://bangkokpost.pressreader.com/article/281698324010295

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