Following President Trump’s decision on 8 May, 2018 to withdraw the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”), the US government announced that it would re-impose pre-JCPOA nuclear-related Iran sanctions (both primary and secondary) that were lifted under the JCPOA. As we reported previously, two “wind-down” periods—of 90 and 180 days respectively—commenced … Read more

In a press release published on 15 June 2016 (available here), the International Court of Justice ("ICJ") announced that Iran has instituted proceedings against the USA, in respect of alleged violations under the 1955 US-Iran Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights (the "Treaty"). Notably, Iran's application concerns allegations that the US, through measures … Read more

Summary In its recent judgment of 20 November 2015, the High Court of England and Wales (the "Court") enforced a US$100m peremptory order made in arbitral proceedings against the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq. The judgment considers a number of interesting questions regarding state immunity as well as the relationship between courts and arbitral proceedings: … Read more

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action relating to Iran's nuclear programme (the "JCPOA") officially came into effect on 18 October ("Adoption Day"), requiring all JCPOA participants to make the necessary arrangements and preparations for implementation of their respective JCPOA commitments.  In this briefing, we summarise the most recent steps taken by the US and EU … Read more

In the early hours of July 14, 2015, it was announced that the P5+1/EU3+3 and Iran had reached agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran’s nuclear program (the “JCPOA”). This builds on the framework announced in April 2015. One of the key elements of the JCPOA will be extensive relief from the … Read more

In April 2015, the US and EU announced the agreed framework for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the “JCPOA”) regarding Iran’s nuclear program. At the time of that announcement, the parties said that they intended to draft the final terms of the JCPOA by June 30, 2015. The parties have now announced that negotiations … Read more

On 19 December, the EU published Council Decision 2014/932/CFSP and Regulation 1352/2014 in relation to the situation in Yemen. The measures came into force immediately upon publication. The new measures impose an asset freeze on three individuals: Abdullah Yahya Al Hakim, Abd Al-Khaliq Al-Huthi and Ali Abdullah Saleh. These individuals were designated on the basis … Read more

In an Award on Jurisdiction rendered earlier this year in National Gas S.A.E. v. Arab Republic of Egypt (ICSID Case No. ARB/11/7), an ICSID tribunal declined jurisdiction to hear a claim brought against Egypt under the Egypt-UAE BIT by an Egyptian corporate claimant whose immediate shareholders were two UAE shell companies but who was ultimately … Read more