THE European Union's General Court in Luxembourg has ruled against sanction imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) because western governments had failed to "justify restrictive measures"
EU court ends Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines sanctions
THE European Union's General Court in Luxembourg has ruled against sanction imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) because western governments had failed to "justify restrictive measures" based on the evidence they provided allegedly showing the carrier's involvement in nuclear proliferation.
EU governments argue they cannot provide proof of the IRISL involvement because doing so can expose confidential intelligence and undermine their efforts to combat Iran's nuclear programme, Reuters reports.
Said IRISL lawyer Maryam Taher: "This is not just victory for our clients, but also for the rule of law. It's a celebration of the independence and integrity of our courts."
Tehran says its nuclear programme is aimed at energy generation and medical research. It refuses to meet international demands to scale back the work, demanded in UN Security Council resolutions over seven years.
IRISL was hit with financial sanctions by the US Treasury in 2008 for what it said was its role in aiding Iran's ballistic missile development programme, and any foreign companies doing businesses with it may face punitive measures under US law.