United Nations

By Susan M. Akram | The Trump administration has sought to weaken or abandon various international agencies since 2016. Now it’s taking aim at the International Criminal Court, a global tribunal that investigates and prosecutes war crimes, torture and genocide. Claiming the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan poses a […]

China

China slams Trump Admin. as “Saboteur” on Iran Deal, “Making a Mockery of Int’l Law”

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Iran nuclear deal was horse trading. Iran gave up 80 percent of its civilian nuclear enrichment program and was supposed to get in return the lifting of all sanctions. Instead, Trump maximized sanctions, in what is essentially a trade and financial blockade on the country. So it is like […]

China

Trump walks Alone: Former US Allies Britain, France, Germany join Russia and China in Forcefully Rejecting Trump Iran Sanctions

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – LeMonde reports that France, Germany and Britain have rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to reimpose UN Security Council sanctions on Iran that were revoked in early 2016 with the signing of the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA). Their joint statement said, “France, Germany and the […]

Donald Trump

Iran: “Isolated” US Regime must learn from its Humiliation at UN, as Trump rejects Putin Plan

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Even Iran seemed surprised by the magnitude of its victory over the US in Friday’s UN Security Council vote. President Hassan Rouhani said, according to US News and World Report, “I don’t remember the United States preparing a resolution for months to strike a blow at the Islamic Republic of […]

China

No Longer Leader of the Free World: Trump Admin. Humiliated at UN over Iran Arms Embargo

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Last week, I asked, “Will Trump’s Maximum Pressure on UNSC against Lifting Iran Arms Embargo Backfire Big Time?” As Iran’s IRNA news service reports today, the answer was a resounding “Yes!” On Friday, the United Nations Security Council took up a resolution presented by US ambassador to the UN, Kelly […]

Arms Sales

Will Trump’s Maximum Pressure on UNSC against Lifting Iran Arms Embargo Backfire Big Time?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Peter Hutchison at AFP reports that the Trump administration may be set to shoot itself in the foot at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) next week by pressing for an over-ambitious resolution against lifting the arms embargo on Iran. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed by the […]

Bahrain

Qatar’s Victory over Saudi, UAE Blockade Shows UN Court can be Weapon of the Weak

Middle East Monitor

By Daud Abdullah | – A press release issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 14 July described its judgement against Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE as “final, without appeal and binding on the Parties.” Since June 2017, the four countries have imposed a land, air and sea blockade against the State […]

Epidemics

Covid-19 Won’t be the last Pandemic that Jumps to Humans from Animals, Unless we Take Action

John Buell

President Trump’s misinformation campaign regarding Covid–19 serves only to highlight his gross incompetence and callous disregard for human life. It also has the unfortunate consequence of obscuring some of the deeper causes of pandemics, perspectives that will require much more attention if future pandemics are to be quashed or at least mitigated. Though our most […]

Donald Trump

Only a Criminal Regime would Coerce Int’l Criminal Court as Trump is Doing — Oh wait

Middle East Monitor

By Tasnim Nazeer | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – The Trump administration in Washington has attempted repeatedly to block investigations by the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) in Afghanistan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These investigations are significant for probing into the conduct of American and Israeli citizens but the US President […]