درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

When arbitration is mentioned, the concept of its finality immediately comes to mind, and the possibility of appealing arbitration awards is generally dismissed. This characteristic has made arbitration an increasingly attractive method for resolving international commercial disputes due to its expedited and cost-effective nature. However, in certain arbitration regimes, including the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal (the IUSCT, the Tribunal), the possibility of appeal under specific conditions is anticipated. This research aims to assess the feasibility of appealing arbitration awards and analyze the associated limitations, with a focus on the jurisprudence of the IUSCT. In this context, the concept of appeal in international arbitration and its distinction from analogous concepts will be examined, and the unique position of appeals in the IUSCT will be analyzed. The findings, gathered through a descriptive-analytical methodology, indicate that, in specific cases, the IUSCT provide unique avenues for appealing awards.

This article aims to address theoretical and practical issues arising from the author’s "lived experience" in dealing with the developments and intricacies of international arbitration, with a particular focus on experiences related to the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal. These discussions are presented in two parts. The first part consists of general observations that emphasize, on the one hand, the unique importance of the Tribunal in contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security through the peaceful resolution of disputes between two predominantly adversarial states. The Tribunal is referred to as a symbolic institution embodying the "ideal of arbitration for peace." On the other hand, this section highlights the hybrid and multifaceted nature of the Tribunal and its manifestations, noting that the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal is a multifunctional institution. It simultaneously serves as an international commercial arbitration tribunal, an international investment arbitration tribunal, a tribunal with jurisdiction over contractual disputes between two states, and a public international law tribunal. This multifaceted nature allows its awards to be examined from various perspectives. The second part primarily examines the Tribunal’s jurisprudence from the perspective of the interaction between distinct legal cultures involved in international arbitration and the mutual influence of their legal backgrounds on the arbitration process. This selection is made with consideration of the judicial issues prevalent in Iran and seeks to highlight the Tribunal’s unparalleled role in deepening the legal knowledge and practical skills of Iranian lawyers in dealing with international claims. In this regard, issues such as the non-requirement of power of attorney for legal representatives, the admissibility of written witness testimony (affidavit) by the parties, the submission of written witness testimony and oral testimony by individuals with a personal interest in the case or a master-servant relationship with the parties, the ability to cross-examine witnesses during hearings regarding the content and veracity of their testimony, and the standard applied by the Tribunal for meeting the burden of proof and the burden of production are all examined in light of the Tribunal’s various rulings.