Sanctions on Zarif Sign of US Frustration in Face of Iran: Foreign Ministry
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned US sanction on Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and described the move as “a clear sign of the US administration’s frustration”.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran… regards the measure as a clear sign of the US administration’s frustration and desperation,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday evening.
“The new sanctions by the US reveal its administration’s fear and weakness in the face of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s smart diplomacy which is based upon logic,” it added.
The ministry further emphasized that the recent sanctions on Zarif will have no effect on efforts by Zarif, as the person in charge of Iran’s foreign policy, “to prove the rightfulness of the Iranian nation, defend the national interests, and fight against the US administration’s economic terrorism”.
On Wednesday, the US Department of State said Washington has designated Zarif for acting on behalf of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. The US president had issued an executive order on June 24, imposing sanctions on the Leader and his office and authorizing sanctions on others associated with Ayatollah Khamenei.
The senior Iranian diplomat has dismissed the US move, saying that being designated by the US would not affect him since he has ho properties outside Iran.
“We know that calling for dialog & peace is an existential threat to B-Team. And since reason for designating me is my words, would ‘US persons’ need OFAC license to ‘engage’ with me by reading my writings or listening to interviews?” Zarif said in a Twitter post.
