Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made a statement on Friday, a day after the US Treasury Department engaged in China’s Iranian oil trade, nominating three shipping vessels as vessels blocking the facility for use in the trade.
Sanctions followed the birth of a letter in Ali Seyed Ali Khamenei, written by President Donald Trump to the leaders of the Islamic Revolution. In an interview with Fox News last week, Trump threatened military action against Tehran if he failed to engage in consultations over a new nuclear deal.
Baghaei said the new ban rebutted repeated claims by American officials about preparing for negotiations, indicating US hostility to the development, progress and prosperity of the Iranian people.
He also said that the US “addictions” to policies of sanctions and pressure on independent countries violate the rule of law at the international level and poses a threat to international peace and security.
“The evil US actions to disrupt economic and trade exchanges with other countries in Iran are a clear violation of international law and the fundamental principles and rules of free trade,” he said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran holds a US government responsible for the consequences and effects of such unilateral and illegal actions.”
The spokesman added that “suddenly US actions” like those targeted at Iran’s oil ministers cannot influence the nation’s resolve to defend its independence and dignity and strive to develop and prosper.
In a statement, Iran’s oil ministry said Paknejad was approved for extensive efforts to sell Iranian oil.
“The sanctions against Paknejad and his group of oil managers, as well as businesses and individuals related to the Iranian oil industry, are aimed at putting maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic.”
“Iran has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to avoid sanctions over the past few years, and uses a variety of methods to sell oil in international markets,” the statement added.
The US Treasury Department said the imposition of new sanctions would “advance” Trump’s policy of so-called maximum pressure on Iran.
During his first presidential term, Trump pursued a policy of pressure on Iran, unilaterally retracting Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposing a series of illegal sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
MNA/