US withdraws from Iran treaty after court ruling

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – America’s top diplomat took another strike at Iran, saying threats from the Islamic Republic necessitated closing the consulate in Basra and withdrawing from a 1955 treaty after a UN court ruling telling the US to ease sanctions against Iran. 

“Iran is the origin of the current threat to Americans in Iraq,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a press briefing in Washington on Wednesday. 

“Our intelligence in this regard is solid. We can see the hand of the Ayatollah and his henchmen supporting these attacks on the United States,” he added. 

The US closed its consulate in Basra, southern Iraq last week, citing security concerns. 

Basra was rocked by protests over the summer as people demonstrated the lack of clean water and steady electricity supplies, blaming government corruption. Protesters set on fire several political and militia offices, including the Iranian consulate in the city. 

Rockets were also reportedly fired in the area of the US diplomatic mission, located near the airport. 

Pompeo also announced the US was withdrawing from a 1955 agreement with Iran.

"I'm announcing that the US is terminating the 1955 Treaty of Amity with Iran. This is a decision, frankly, that is 39 years overdue," he said. 

The treaty, which predates the Islamic Republic, addresses economic relations and consular rights.

A UN court ruled on Wednesday that the US violated the treaty when it re-imposed sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from the nuclear deal in May. 

The International Court of Justice ordered the US to lift sanctions on humanitarian goods an allow “free exportation to Iran of medicines and medical devices, food and agricultural commodities,” and airplane parts. 

Pompeo said the court exceeded its authority. 

 “We’re disappointed that the court failed to recognize that it has no jurisdiction to issue any order relating to these sanctions measures with the United States, which is doing its work on Iran to protect its own essential security interests,” he said.

Pompeo qualified that the US will ensure it provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Iran. 

Tehran welcomed the court decision as proof they are “in the right.”

A second round of US sanctions targeting the oil sector is due to come into force next month. 

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