Iran slams new sanctions issued by the US as sign of 'malice'

ByNews Desk- The Cradle 

The Iranian foreign ministry stated this move contradicts Washington's claims that it wants to re-join the 2015 nuclear agreement

On 30 March, the US issued a fresh round of sanctions against an Iranian man and several of his companies based on allegations that he is behind the procurement of supplies for Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh stated on 31 March that these new sanctions prove that the US has “ill intent and malice” towards the Iranian nation.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson further stated that these new sanctions show that the US says one thing, that it wants to re-implement the 2015 nuclear agreement, but does another thing, which is to impose new sanctions and violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

The latest round of punitive measures comes amid ongoing talks in Vienna to re-implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and lift western sanctions on Iran.

During his visit to China for discussions on Afghanistan, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said: “The United States must abandon its excessive demands so that weeks of intensive efforts by different sides in Vienna will lead to the necessary outcome, namely a return by all sides to their commitments.”

The Vienna talks have been put on hold recently for an undetermined period of time, in spite of hints that these negotiations were in their ‘final stages.’

In the statement issued by the US Department of Treasury about these new sanctions, they cited the recent retaliatory strike by Iran against an Israeli Mossad base in Erbil, Iraq and the recent retaliatory strike by the Yemeni armed forces against a Saudi Aramco oil facility in Jeddah.

While Iran publicly took credit for the strike in Erbil, there is no solid evidence that Iran provides direct material aid to the Ansarallah resistance movement in Yemen.

Iran considers its defensive capabilities a red line in the ongoing negotiations in Vienna. It is demanding the full removal of all sanctions against Iran, in a manner that is verifiable, along with guarantees that the US, regardless of president, will not withdraw from the agreement again.