Tehran slams fresh US sanctions as "criminal measures" violating international law

Iran has denounced a new round of United States sanctions targeting its oil, gas, and nuclear sectors, calling them illegal and a blatant violation of international norms.

In a statement issued on April 23, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticised the US Treasury Department’s move to impose sanctions on several individuals and entities associated with Iran’s energy industry and its peaceful nuclear programme, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

Describing the US sanctions regime as hostile and unlawful, Baqaei said, “The US administrations’ structural addiction to economic sanctions against the developing countries as an instrument for intimidation and political pressures violates the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law.”

He added that the sanctions not only flout international legal standards but also infringe on basic human rights, stating, “The US sanctions undermine the foundations of the rule of law and free trade, violate the basic human rights of the people in the target countries, and amount to crimes against humanity.”

Baqaei further accused Washington of acting in bad faith, saying the punitive measures contradict the US government’s professed commitment to diplomacy. “The sanctions against Iran’s economic and trade sectors are bullying and illegal measures that are in direct contradiction to the US’ claim to be pursuing dialogue and negotiations, and also indicate the US’ lack of goodwill and seriousness,” he said.

Holding the United States accountable for the humanitarian impact of the sanctions, Baqaei warned, “Washington is held culpable for the egregious violations of human rights in the wake of its criminal measures.”

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on April 22 that it had sanctioned Iranian national Seyed Asadollah Emamjomeh and his affiliated corporate network for allegedly facilitating shipments of Iranian liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil to foreign markets. Another Iranian national, Meisam Emamjomeh, was also designated.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and views the sanctions as politically motivated and contrary to the principles of international engagement.

By Aghakazim Guliyev