‘The unilateral and illegal US sanctions against Iran are a criminal act that violates the fundamental principles of international law and human rights,’ says foreign ministry spokesman
Iran denounced on Thursday new US sanctions on Iranian oil energy entities as “clear evidence of US hostility” toward the Iranian people.
“The unilateral and illegal US sanctions against Iran are a criminal act that violates the fundamental principles of international law and human rights and are considered an example of a crime against humanity,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in statements carried by the Mehr News Agency.
On Wednesday, the US administration imposed sanctions on more than 115 entities and vessels allegedly tied to the illegal transport of oil and petroleum products from Iran and Russia in violation of US sanctions.
The Treasury Department said the network is overseen by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader who was sanctioned by the US in 2020.
Baghaei said Iranian people are aware of the “malicious intentions” of the US to weaken Iran via damaging its economy and “will stand firm with all their might to safeguard their dignity and interests.”
The spokesman called on the international community to hold the US accountable over its “addiction to unilateralist behavior and illegal and coercive tools to advance its illegitimate goals internationally.”
Separately, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Washington “must compensate the damage that they have done” to Iran during the 12-day war with Israel before any possible return to nuclear negotiations.
“The road to negotiation is narrow, but it’s not impossible,” Araghchi said in an interview with the British daily Financial Times.
The top diplomat said that during his talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff, he asked for “real confidence-building measures” from the US to restart nuclear talks with a security guarantee.
Talks between Iran and the US were being held through Omani mediators until Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which triggered a 12-day war, targeting military, nuclear, and civilian sites as well as senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes, while the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.
The conflict came to a halt under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24.
