Iran’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi. (Photo: Press TV)

United Nations, November 24 (RHC)-- Iran’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations says the US has violated a binding ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that ordered Washington to lift some of its unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in a speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the United States paid no heed to the ICJ’s ruling in 2018 and violated the international law by intensifying sanctions and coercive measures against the Islamic Republic.

Takht-Ravanchi said the U.S. sanctions have impacted Iran’s ability to engage in free trade, and have particularly impeded the country’s access to medicine and medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.

“These sanctions have directly and indirectly targeted Iranian companies and the Iranian people and affected Iran's ability to trade freely,” the Iranian diplomat said.  “The United States is bound by the court, and any non-compliance is subject to international responsibility,” Takht-Ravanchi added. “The court has asked the litigants to refrain from actions that would aggravate or expand the dispute. It is clear that U.S. wrongdoing gives rise to its international responsibility.”

Back in October 2018, the ICJ ordered the United States to halt the unilateral sanctions it had re-imposed on "humanitarian" supplies to Iran.  The Hague-based court, which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, announced its ruling on October 3 regarding the July 2018 lawsuit brought by Tehran against Washington's decision to re-impose unilateral sanctions following the US exit from a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.