THE Association for Community and Dialogue (ACID) supports the Iranian government’s continuous efforts since July 16, 2018 in taking the United States to task by filing a lawsuit with the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The basis of filing the case was to get the court to overturn US nuclear sanctions, saying they were destroying the Iranian economy and ruining millions of lives.

This case has great significance for global justice, not just because the 1955 Treaty of Amity, signed between the two sides well before the Islamic revolution of Iran, has been violated, or that the US has reneged on the Iran nuclear deal, which has its legal and moral argument. It has a catastrophic humanitarian implication, as well, when a nation is strangled inhumanely during the current Covid-19 pandemic for geo-political goals.

The Iranian government would need to engage in significant trade to support its suffering population, and preventing a sovereign nation from adequately meeting the needs of its people is utterly immoral.

The Iranian case against the US has another important dimension. Can a powerful nation bypass international bodies such as the nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, renege on the Iran nuclear deal, ignore the vital collective decision-making processes of the United Nations Security Council, and impose sanctions unilaterally against a sovereign nation?

The ICJ has every right to hear the case when suffering Iranian citizens have no other recourse to global justice. The ruling of the ICJ would demonstrate the importance and responsibility of powerful nations to adhere to international law whether it is the United States, China or Russia.

The Covid-19 crisis should steer world powers to stop their hegemonic geo-political designs and work towards what is essential, which is to protect poor and vulnerable citizens globally. – September 19, 2020.

*Ronald Benjamin is Secretary, Association for Community and Dialogue.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.