US leaving optional protocol to Vienna Convention

Washington : US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said the US is withdrawing from the Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on dispute resolution.

Speaking on Wednesday at a White House press briefing, Bolton said that "the President ( Donald Trump) has decided that the US will withdraw from the optional protocol on dispute resolution to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations", Xinhua reported.

"This is in connection with a case brought by the so-called State of Palestine naming the US as a defendant, challenging our move of our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," he said.

The protocol, with 29 signatories and 71 parties, entered into force in 1964. The US was also a participant of it.

"I'd like to stress, the US remains a party to the underlying Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and we expect all other parties to abide by their international obligations under the convention," he said.