[FreeBeacon] U.S. officials are fighting against a recently filed lawsuit by Iran in the International Court of Justice, or ICJ, that seeks to block the imposition of harsh new sanctions on Iran by the Trump administration.Iranian officials launched a formal complaint with the ICJ earlier this month, alleging the reimposition of harsh new sanctions on Iran by the Trump administration violates international treaties created as a result of the landmark nuclear agreement.
Iran's lawsuit is reportedly gaining traction at the ICJ, which sent an official letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this week urging him and the Trump administration to hold off on new sanctions amid an economic collapse in Iran that has ignited popular protests across the country.
Iranian officials lauded the latest development at the ICJ and lashed out at the Trump administration in public comments in which they formally rejected the U.S. president's offers for a direct meeting. The war of words follows a tense few weeks between Trump and Iranian officials, which have sparked fears of a new regional war.
Trump administration officials working on the ICJ lawsuit told the Free Beacon Monday afternoon that Iran's claims are baseless. Senior U.S. officials are now working to ensure the lawsuit is tossed from the court.
"We are aware of the application filed on July 16, 2018 by Iran in the International Court of Justice instituting proceedings against the United States," a State Department official disclosed to the Free Beacon on Monday. "While I cannot comment on the specifics, Iran's application is baseless, and we intend to vigorously defend the United States before the ICJ."
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chair the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, celebrated the ICJ's letter to Pompeo urging the United States to halt any new economic sanctions, calling the letter a "highly logical" step by the ICJ.
"The U.S.'s reinstatement of sanctions is against the international standards, because this country was obliged to lift all sanctions against Iran under the U.N. Security Council resolution," Boroujerdi was quoted as saying on Monday in Iran's state-controlled press. "Such unlawful act can be sued."