[1] The Court affirmed that it could exercise jurisdiction over the case based on the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights between the United States and Iran but decided with strong majorities against both Iran's claim and the United States' counterclaim.

The United States filed a preliminary objection challenging the Court's jurisdiction over the case and also filed a counter-claim that Iran had also breached its obligations under the Treaty of Amity for attacking vessels in the Persian Gulf and for endangering commerce and navigation in the area.

[2] On March 10, 1998, the Court held that the U.S. counter-claim against Iran, for mining and other attacks on U.S. shipping, was also admissible.

On November 6, 2003, 11 years after the initial application was submitted by Iran, the ICJ rejected the claims of both states.

[2] First, the Court found by a vote of 14-2 (dissenting Judges Al-Khasawneh (Jordan), Elaraby (Egypt)) that the U.S. actions against Iranian oil platforms in 1987 and 1988 could not be justified under the treaty's essential security exception but that they did not breach the treaty's freedom of commerce provision because, at the time, the oil platforms were under repair and non-operational and, thus, the attack did not affect freedom of commerce between the United States and Iran.