ICJ fixes time for Iran, US to represent “initial pleadings”

Tehran, Oct 17, IRNA – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has fixed a time limit for Iran and the United States for the “filing of the initial pleadings” after Iran lodged a complaint with the Court against US violation of the 1955 Treaty of Amity. Iran has already filed a suit in the ICJ against the US re-imposition of unilateral sanctions as Washington withdrew unilaterally on May 8 from the Iran Deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The ICJ, having seat in the Hague, said through a press release on Tuesday (October 16) that the principal judicial organ of the United Nations “has fixed the time-limits for the filing of the initial pleadings in the case concerning Alleged Violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights (Islamic Republic of Iran v United States of America.” “By an Order dated 10 October 2018, the Court fixed 10 April 2019 and 10 October 2019 as the respective time-limits for the filing of a Memorial by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and a Counter-Memorial by the United States of America.” In related development, Head of Iran's Presidential Center for International Legal Affairs Mohsen Mohebbi said in late July that according to the 1955 treaty, US had committed to have fair behavior towards Iranian nationals and not put obstacles on financial relations. Article 74, paragraph 4, of the Rules of Court draws “the attention of both Parties to the need to act in such a way as to enable any Order the Court will make on the request for provisional measures to have its appropriate effects.” In line with its order after hearing to Iran at the Court, the ICJ said “That the USA shall refrain from taking any other measure that might prejudice the rights of Iran and Iranian nationals and companies under the Treaty of Amity with respect to any decision this Court might render on the merits.” Iran’s complaint in the ICJ against US also includes the latter’s measure to freeze two billion dollars of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) assets. Also, in line with the World Court procedure, President of the ICJ Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf has sent an official letter based on Article 74, paragraph 4 of the Court Rules, to the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling on him to avoid taking any new measure and not to change the conditions. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish