Iran has condemned the United States for imposing new sanctions on its oil sector, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressing strong opposition to potential talks with Washington.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the sanctions, announced on Thursday, calling them “illegitimate and unlawful,” according to the IRNA news agency. The spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, claimed that the US’s actions were aimed at preventing Iran from conducting legitimate trade, and he stated that Iran held the US responsible for the consequences of these measures.
Khamenei also weighed in, asserting that negotiations with the US would not be beneficial, describing them as “neither smart, wise, nor honourable.” He referenced past negotiations where Iran made concessions but the US failed to honor agreements, leading to the US’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump.
In response to threats, Khamenei emphasized that if the US jeopardizes Iran’s security, Iran would respond in kind.
The new sanctions are part of US President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to bring Iranian crude exports to zero as part of efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program. These measures target Iranian firms, ships, and individuals linked to the oil trade, particularly those facilitating the export of Iranian oil to China.
The sanctions represent the first new actions against Iran since Trump resumed office. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have been engaged in diplomatic talks with Iran in recent months in an effort to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal abandoned by Trump in 2018.
While Iran has long opposed US sanctions, particularly those affecting its oil exports, it has indicated willingness to engage in dialogue under certain conditions.
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