IMO Sides with Iran on US Bans in another Legal Victory for Tehran

Iran had filed a lawsuit against the US on November 8, which the IMO took up at its 121st meeting in London.

In its complaint, Tehran argued that US sanctions on its shipping sector violated the Convention on the International Maritime Organization, which urges member states to avoid discriminatory measures against shipping activities of other countries.

Iran had asked the IMO to order its members not to behave in a way that would deprive one member state of its legal rights, Mohammad Rastad, the head of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, told reporters on Thursday following the IMO meeting.

Fortunately, Iran’s complaint was legally and logically convincing and was supported by influential member states, he said, adding that IMO members finally sided with Iran on the case and urged the organization to recognize the Islamic Republic’s right in this regard.

The IMO “strongly urged the US and other member states to refrain from taking any measure that might endanger international maritime safety and security and the freedom of navigation,” Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad tweeted.

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, the IMO which has 174 member states is tasked with regulating international shipping.

The organization works to promote “safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping through cooperation,” as its mission statement reads.

It also addresses safety issues, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation among member states, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.