Unic Press UK: The Iranian authorities have described the U.S. sanctions on Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, as “childish.”
“The ill-wishers of the Iranian nation and government have now resorted to childish measures. The enemy claims every day that it wants dialog with Iran and has no pre-condition for negotiations with the Iranian government. It, however, sanctions our foreign minister. By imposing sanctions on the respectable foreign minister [of Iran], Americans once again demonstrated their anger at the spread of the Islamic Revolution’s inspiring and anti-arrogance discourse, and unveiled their mischief and animosity toward the dignified Iranian establishment and nation,” said the Iranian President Hassan during a speech he delivered Thursday in Iran’s northwestern East Azerbaijan Province, the Press TV reports.
President Rouhani also flayed the U.S. decision via his official Twitter account, saying: Washington is frightened by the capabilities of the Iranian top diplomat.
FM @JZarif designation indicates that White House is frightened by his diplomatic capabilities. If they're serious abt negotiations, who other than the FM can be their interlocutor? Zarif heads Islamic Republic's diplomacy & ably talks & negotiates on behalf of the entire nation.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) August 1, 2019
Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter: “The US’ reason for designating me is that I am Iran’s “primary spokesperson around the world.” Is the truth really that painful?. It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran.”
The US' reason for designating me is that I am Iran's "primary spokesperson around the world"
Is the truth really that painful?
It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran.
Thank you for considering me such a huge threat to your agenda.— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 31, 2019
It was on Wednesday that the U.S. administration announced financial sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif througha press statement https://www.state.gov/the-u-s-designates-iranian-foreign-minister-mohammad-javad-zarif/ which reads:
“On June 24, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order 13876 imposing sanctions on the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Husseini Khamenei and the Supreme Leader’s Office, and authorizing sanctions on others associated with the Supreme Leader. Today, the United States designated the Iranian regime’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has acted on behalf of the Supreme Leader. Iran’s Foreign Ministry is not merely the diplomatic arm of the Islamic Republic but also a means of advancing many of the Supreme Leader’s destabilizing policies. Foreign Minister Zarif and the Foreign Ministry he runs take their direction from the Supreme Leader and his office. Foreign Minister Zarif is a key enabler of Ayatollah Khamenei’s policies throughout the region and around the world. The designation of Javad Zarif today reflects this reality…”
There’s intense tensions between the United States, Islamic Republic of Iran over the years, escalating last year, May 8, 2018, when the U.S. government withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal – also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, (JCPOA) – and imposed a wide range of sanctions against Iran.
The U.S. President, Donald Trump claims that the JCPOA – Iran nuclear deal – remains a bad deal for the world and the United States, insisting that a new agreement is long overdue. Washington says it’s open to a negotiation on a fresh deal, but Iran insist that no negotiations would hold as long as the U.S. sanctions are not removed.
