Iran Accuses US of Undermining Negotiation Claims with New Sanctions

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated on Wednesday that the United States’ new sanctions against Iran undermine its claims of willingness to negotiate with the Islamic Republic on nuclear issues.

Baqaei emphasized that the continued imposition of sanctions on Iran’s economic and trade sectors is a bullying and illegal act, revealing a lack of goodwill and seriousness on the part of Washington regarding any future negotiations. He also described the unilateral sanctions against the Iranian people as arbitrary and unlawful, stressing that they violate fundamental principles of international law and amount to gross human rights violations for which the US must be held accountable.

The spokesperson further criticized the US for using embargoes as political pressure tools against developing countries, saying such practices violate the UN Charter, international law, and undermine the principles of free trade, the rule of law, and the right to development. His comments came after the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Iranian businessman Asadollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network involved in liquefied petroleum gas trade.