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Thursday, August 01, 2019, 18:38
Iran's Zarif rebuffs US sanctions on him, Rouhani says 'childish'
By Xinhua
Thursday, August 01, 2019, 18:38 By Xinhua

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrives at the Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, July 23, 2019. (JUAN KARITA / AP)

TEHRAN/WASHINGTON/DUBAI — Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday dismissed the US' decision to put sanctions on him.

"It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran," Zarif tweeted, "Thank you for considering me such a huge threat to your agenda."

The US reason for designating me is that I am Iran's 'primary spokesperson around the world.' Is the truth really that painful?"

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, tweeted

"The US reason for designating me is that I am Iran's 'primary spokesperson around the world.' Is the truth really that painful?" Zarif noted.

Later in the day, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the US' move "childish behaviour", reports Reuters

"They (Americans) are resorting to childish behaviour... They were claiming every day 'We want to talk, with no preconditions' ...and then they sanction the foreign minister," Rouhani said in remarks carried live on state television. "This means they have lost the power of rational thought." 

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards condemned the move as "ridiculous, illegal and unwise", the semi-official news agency Fars reported. 

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced that it has sanctioned Zarif, amid high tension between the two sides.

The US Treasury Department alleged that Zarif "acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran," who was placed under sanctions in June.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, "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."

According to a US Treasury Department statement, all property and interests of Zarif in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported to the US government.

In addition, any foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates a significant transaction for or on behalf of Zarif would also face punishment by the US government.  

ALSO READ: Khamenei: Iran will not retreat in face of US sanctions, 'insults'

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Thursday said that "the Americans are seriously scared by the logic of Zarif and his art of negotiations."

Ties between the United States and Iran have deteriorated significantly after Washington walked away from the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and reimposed energy and financial sanctions, which had been removed under the deal, on Iran.

ALSO READ: Iran: No talks unless sanctions lifted, supreme leader permits

Iran has suspended parts of its commitments subject to the nuclear deal and have threatened to go further.

The US government on June 24 imposed "hard-hitting" sanctions on Iran, partially targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US President Donald Trump said the move came after "a series of aggressive behaviors by the Iranian regime in recent weeks" including shooting down a US drone.


With Reuters inputs

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