The UN's top court ordered the United States Wednesday to
suspend sanctions on "humanitarian" goods for Iran in a stunning setback
for US President Donald Trump.
The International Court of Justice
(ICJ) handed down the bombshell judgement after Iran asked it to halt
economic measures that Trump reimposed after pulling out of a landmark
nuclear deal with Tehran.
Judges in The Hague unanimously ruled
that the sanctions on some goods breached a 1955 "friendship treaty"
between Iran and the US that predates Iran's Islamic Revolution.
"The court finds unanimously that... the United States of
America... shall remove by means of its choosing any impediments arising
from the measures announced on 8 May to the free exportation to Iran of
medicines and medical devices, food and agricultural commodities" as
well as airplane parts, chief judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said.
The
court said sanctions on goods "required for humanitarian needs... may
have a serious detrimental impact on the health and lives of individuals
on the territory of Iran."
Read more: US ordered to halt 'humanitarian' Iran sanctions in blow for Trump