Iran is actively preparing to act as a third party in South Africa's lawsuit against Israel at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ). Mohammad Dehghan, Iran's Vice President for Legal Affairs, announced the formation of a commission and the ongoing preparation of documents during a meeting with reporters before a cabinet session.
"As soon as South Africa filed a complaint, we formed a commission <...> and will soon file a complaint against the Zionist regime [Israel] at the UN International Court of Justice as a third party," Dehghan stated, as reported by the ISNA news agency. He clarified that Iran's involvement in the lawsuit is based on the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of Crimes of Genocide. Iran chose to participate as a third party rather than filing its own complaint, as filing independently would imply recognition of Israel as a state.
Furthermore, Iran is gearing up to hold accountable those involved in the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Al-Quds Special Forces. Iran plans to file a lawsuit against the US government in the International Court of Justice, with the filing expected in April 2024. Tehran has already issued a warning to Washington about this impending legal action.
The South African lawsuit at the UN International Court of Justice is centered on the potential violation by Israel of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. South Africa alleges that Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip may constitute genocide, intending to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group. As part of the lawsuit, South Africa seeks a court ruling declaring Israel in breach of its obligations under the convention and demanding the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, along with reparations.
General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC's Al-Quds Special Forces, was killed in a US Air Force missile attack near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020.
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Based on materials from TASS