Malaysia PM Dr. M says US sanctions on Iran violate international law

Speaking at Doha Forum 2019, Mahathir Mohamad says sanctions can only be applied on countries by United Nations.

14 Dec 2019

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks at the 19th Doha Forum in Doha, Qatar [Anadolu Agency]

Sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran violate the United Nations‘s charter and international law, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said in a conference in Qatar.

“Malaysia does not support the reimposition of the unilateral sanctions by the US against Iran,” he told the Doha Forum, also attended by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Saturday.

Last year, US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord and reinstated sanctions to choke Iran’s oil exports and isolate its economy as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran to force it to renegotiate a new deal.

A week ago, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced what he called a $39bn “budget of resistance” to counter US sanctions following a fuel price rise that sparked deadly nationwide protests

Malaysia and other countries have lost “a big market” because of the sanctions on Iran, said Mahathir.

“Such sanctions clearly violate the United Nations Charter and international law. Sanctions can only be applied by the United Nations in accordance with the charter,” he added.

The two-day Doha Forum, which defines itself as a global platform for dialogue, will discuss various topics under the theme of Reimagining Governance in a Multi-Polar World.

Source :

Al Jazeera