Iran Condemns New U.S. Sanctions as Hostile and Unjustified.

On Wednesday, Iran vocalized its condemnation of a recent wave of U.S. sanctions, describing them as a blatant act of hostility. The sanctions, enacted by Washington, target over 30 individuals and vessels associated with Iran’s oil trade, including the head of the national oil company. This marks the second set of sanctions implemented in less than a month, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of his “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran.

Esmaeil Baqaei, the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, characterized the sanctions as unequivocally wrongful and unjustified, asserting that they infringe upon the human rights of the Iranian people. He opined that these measures reflect the American policymakers’ disregard for the welfare and happiness of the Iranian populace.

Despite Trump’s overtures for dialogue, where he expressed aspirations for Iran to emerge as a prosperous nation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi firmly rejected the prospect of negotiating under coercive measures. He emphasized that any discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program must not arise from the imposition of pressure or sanctions.

This recent escalation in hostilities is situated against the backdrop of the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal under Trump’s initial tenure, which had aimed to curtail Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. As tensions continue to mount, the path towards diplomacy remains fraught with challenges for both nations.