The Heat: UN directs the U.S. to ease pressure on Tehran

The Heat

The United Nations’ top court has issued an interim order to the United States to ease sanctions it re-imposed on Iran after pulling out of the nuclear deal last year.

The ruling by the International Court of Justice focused on sanctions linked to humanitarian goods and civil aviation. The U.S. had argued the court had no jurisdiction in the case since it concerned U.S. national security. Though binding, the court has no power to enforce its decision.

Word from the court comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Europe of appeasing Iran, warning that despite the 2015 agreement, Tehran still harbors nuclear ambitions.

Shortly after Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, Anand Naidoo sat down with his spokesman, Ofir Gendelman.

To discuss:

  • Abdelhamid Siyam is a former spokesperson for the United Nations and a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University.
  • Kaveh Afrasiabi is an author and former adviser to the Iranian nuclear negotiating team.

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