New US sanctions, maximum failure of maximum pressure: Iran FM

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has slammed the United States for imposing a new round of sanctions against Tehran, this time targeting the construction sector, saying the new restrictions show Washington's "maximum failure" in what it calls maximum pressure policy regarding the Islamic Republic.

"Subjecting construction workers to #EconomicTerrorism only manifests maximum failure of 'maximum pressure'," Zarif said in a post on his official Twitter account on Friday.

He once again reiterated the Iranian people's determination to stand firm in the face of Washington's behavior. "US can sanction every man, woman & child but Iranians will never submit to bullying."

The top Iranian diplomat called for the United States to abandon failed policies and return to the landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and major world powers instead of digging itself deeper.

The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iran's construction sector despite Washington's announcement a week ago that it had created a new mechanism to facilitate "permissible trade" with Tehran.

PressTV-US imposes new sanctions, targeting Iran construction

The US has imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting the construction sector, despite announcing a week ago that Washington had created a new mechanism for "permissible trade" with Tehran.

The US State Department issued a fact sheet, singling out the sale of software used for industrial purposes, raw and semi-finished metals, graphite and coal used in Iran's construction sector as targets for the new sanctions.

Also on Thursday, the State Department announced a separate batch of sanctions against what it described as the sale of "strategic material" being used "in connection with Iran’s nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs."

Tensions have been running high between Iran and the United States since last year, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the multilateral nuclear deal and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

In response to the US move, Tehran has so far rowed back on its nuclear commitments three times in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA but stressed that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the US sanctions.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in September that Iran will not engage in negotiations with the United States “at any level,” and that Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign against the Iranian nation has failed to achieve its goals.

PressTV-Leader: No talks with US; max pressure campaign futile

Ayatollah Khamenei says Washington can be part of the negotiations with Tehran along with other cosignatories to the nuclear deal, only if it returns to the JCPOA.

The Leader said that the US maximum pressure strategy consists of “a range of sanctions, threats and rants,” aimed at bringing Iran to the negotiating table. However, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the strategy has failed to bring Iran to its knees.

Read more:

• New US regulations aggravate economic terrorism targeting Iran: Zarif
• US attempts to exclude Iran from any regional arrangement futile: FM Zarif
• Abandon illusion that Iran can be defeated by pressure: Zarif to US
• US must end sanctions, maximum pressure on Iran: China

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that the US harsh sanctions against Iran pose a serious threat to the Iranian people’s right to health, urging Washington to adopt swift measures aimed at facilitating the trade of humanitarian goods with the Islamic Republic.

PressTV-HRW: US bans pose threat to Iranians’ right to health

Human Rights Watch says the consequences of redoubled US sanctions against Iran pose a serious threat to the Iranians' right to health.

“The consequences of redoubled US sanctions, whether intentional or not, pose a serious threat to Iranians’ right to health and access to essential medicines—and has almost certainly contributed to documented shortages— ranging from a lack of critical drugs for epilepsy patients to limited chemotherapy medications for Iranians with cancer, the New York-based rights group said.

Read more:

• US sanctions on Iran's access to medicines tantamount to economic terrorism: FM Zarif

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk