What the US administration has done to the Iranian people is illegitimate from a legal point of view and more illegitimate from a moral point of view, La'ya Joneidi told the Financial Times on Tuesday.
After the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran in May, Joneydi filed a lawsuit in co-operation with several ministries against the US at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Iran won.
In the ICJ case, Joneidi helped Iran argue that the US reimposition of sanctions violated a 1955 Treaty of Amity between the two countries that encouraged trade, investment and closer economic relations.
On October 3, the Hague-based ICJ handed a victory to Tehran by ordering Washington to ensure its sanctions did not hit certain forms of trade, including humanitarian aid, food and medicine.
The provisional ruling cannot be enforced and the US immediately terminated the treaty, claiming aid was never a target of its sanctions.
This has been an injustice to Iranian people, who see their economy and welfare weakened while even their access to basic needs is hit, Joneidi said.
The US knows that it cannot ignore the ICJs rulings. It may not be the perfect option (for Iran) but . . . it has been useful.
In addition, Joneidi said Iran was using the ICJ verdict in its negotiations with foreign companies and banks that are reviewing their ties with the country.
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