Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America) – Conclusion of the public hearings – International Court of Justice (ICJ) ready to begin its deliberation

THE HAGUE, 7 March 2003. The public hearings in the case concerning Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America), which opened on 17 February 2003, were concluded today. The Court will now start its deliberation.

At the hearings, the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran was led by Mr. M. H. Zahedin-Labbaf, as Agent; the delegation of the United States of America was led by Mr. William H. Taft, as Agent.

Final submissions of the Parties

At the conclusion of the oral proceedings the Parties presented their final submissions to the Court.

On Monday 3 March 2003 the Islamic Republic of Iran presented the following submissions with respect to its claims:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran respectfully requests the Court, rejecting all contrary claims and submissions, to adjudge and declare:

1. That in attacking and destroying on 19 October 1987 and 18 April 1988 the oil platforms referred to in Iran’s Application, the United States breached its obligations to Iran under Article X, paragraph 1, of the Treaty of Amity, and that the United States bears responsibility for the attacks; and

2. That the United States is accordingly under an obligation to make full reparation to Iran for the violation of its international legal obligations and the injury thus caused in a form and amount to be determined by the Court at a subsequent stage of the proceedings, the right being reserved to Iran to introduce and present to the Court in due course a precise evaluation of the reparation owed by the United States; and

3. Any other remedy the Court may deem appropriate.”

On Wednesday 5 March 2003 the United States of America presented the following submissions with respect to the claims of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to its own counter-claim:

“The Government of the United States requests the Court to adjudge and declare:

(1) That the United States did not breach its obligations to the Islamic Republic of Iran under Article X, paragraph 1, of the 1955 Treaty between the United States and Iran; and

(2) That the claims of the Islamic Republic of Iran are accordingly dismissed.

With respect to its counter-claim, the United States requests that the Court adjudge and declare:

(1) Rejecting all submissions to the contrary, that, in attacking vessels in the Gulf with mines and missiles and otherwise engaging in military actions that were dangerous and detrimental to commerce and navigation between the territories of the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran breached its obligations to the United States under Article X, paragraph 1, of the 1955 Treaty; and

(2) That the Islamic Republic of Iran is accordingly under an obligation to make full reparation to the United States for its breach of the 1955 Treaty in a form and amount to be determined by the Court at a subsequent stage of the proceedings.”

On Friday 7 March 2003 the Islamic Republic of Iran presented the following submissions with respect to the counter-claim of the United States of America:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran respectfully requests the Court, rejecting all contrary claims and submissions, to adjudge and declare:

That the United States counter-claim be dismissed.”