In a fierce response to the latest round of sanctions imposed by the United States, Iran has condemned actions targeting Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and several entities linked to its crude exports as clear evidence of Washington’s “hypocrisy” and “infringement of the law.”
The remarks came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Friday, following a decision by the US Treasury Department to designate Paknejad and three entities involved in Iranian oil trade in China, along with three shipping vessels identified as blocked property due to their roles in these transactions.
These sanctions were announced shortly after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, threatening military action if Iran does not engage in negotiations for a new nuclear deal.
Baghaei said the new bans refute the repeated claims by American officials about their readiness for negotiations and show the US hostility to the development, progress, and prosperity of the Iranian people.
He also noted that the US “addiction” to the policy of sanctions and pressure against independent countries violates the rule of law at the international level and poses a threat to international peace and security.
“The evil actions of the United States to disrupt Iran’s economic and trade exchanges with other countries are a clear violation of the fundamental principles and rules of international law and free trade,” he said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the US government responsible for the consequences and effects of such unilateral and illegitimate actions.”
The spokesman added that “unseemly US actions” like the one targeting Iranian oil minister cannot affect the national resolve to defend the country’s independence and dignity and strive for its development and prosperity.
The Iranian Ministry of Petroleum echoed this sentiment, stating that Paknejad was sanctioned for his substantial efforts in selling Iranian oil. The ministry emphasized that such restrictions aim to exert maximum pressure on Iran, but noted that the country has consistently demonstrated its ability to evade sanctions and continue selling oil globally through various means.
The US Treasury defended the sanctions as a move that further enhances Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. This approach has included withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposing a series of sanctions aimed at crippling the Iranian economy.
Source: Iranian News Agencies (Edited by Al-Manar English Website)
