Iran threatens to sue Washington for 'illegal measures' against diplomats

Tehran sent a notice to the US via the Swiss embassy warning the Islamic Republic may sue Washington, Iran’s Foreign Minister Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday.

In the memorandum, Iran warned it would file a complained against Washington at the International Court of Justice if the US fails to stop its “illegal” actions against Iranian diplomats across global organisations, including the UN, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Zadeh accused the US of violating international law with its alleged harassment of Iranian diplomats and their families, saying “these measures have disrupted and hindered the work of diplomats”.

Relations between Iran and the US have become markedly more tense since 2018, when Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA deal on Iran's nuclear programme, which was signed by the Obama administration.

Iran has recently stepped up its nuclear enrichment level to twenty percent, a number far higher than that specified by the JCPOA deal.

Incoming President-elect Jo Biden, who takes office on January 20, has suggested the United States return to the Iran deal.

On Saturday, the lead US negotiator of the Iran nuclear accord and a battle-tested hawk on Russia were named to top posts at President-elect Joe Biden's State Department.

Wendy Sherman, who brokered the Iran accord under Barack Obama and negotiated a nuclear deal with North Korea under Bill Clinton, was named as deputy secretary of state.

Under outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a staunch defender of Trump, the United States has aggressively challenged Iran.

On Friday, Pompeo slapped yet more sanctions on Iran, just days ahead of the end of the Trump administration.

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