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

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel: +31 (0)70 302 23 23. Cables: Intercourt,
The Hague. Fax: +31 (0)70 364 99 28. Telex: 32323. E-mail address:

[email protected]. Internet address: http://www.icj-cij.org.

Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2003/13
7 March 2003

OilPlatforms aslamic Republic oflran v. United States of America)

Conclusion of the public hearings

Court ready to begin its deliberation

THE HAGUE, 7 March 2003. The public hearings in the case conceming 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 submissionsofthe 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 April1988 the oil platforms

referred to in Iran's Application, the United States breached its obligations to Iran under
ArticleX, 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

violationof 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 Courtue course a precise evaluation of the
reparation owed by the United States; and

3. Any other remedy the Court may deem appropriate." -2-

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

"The Govemment of the United States requests the Court to adjudge and declare:

(l) 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 daims of the Islamic Republic oflran 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 Gulfwith 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
ArticleX, paragraph 1,ofthe 1955 Treaty; and

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

On Friday 7 March 2003 the Islamic Republic of Iran presented the following submissions

with respect to the counter-claimof the United States of America:

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

That the United States counter-claim be dismissed."

*

NOTE FOR THE PRESS

The full transcripts of the hearings of 17 February to 7 March 2003 can be found on the
Court's website (www.icj-cij.org) under "Docket". Click on the hyperlink bearing the name of the

case.

Information Department:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretaryof the Court (tel+ 31 70 302 2336)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers (tel: + 31 70 302 2337)
E-mail address: [email protected]