New US sanctions another hostile act against Iran

Crescent International

Rabi' al-Thani 07, 1435 2014-02-07

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

The US continues to play a duplicitous role vis-a-vis Iran. It has just slapped sanctions on dozens of companies doing business with Iran. The Islamic Republic has reacted angrily to these latest sanctions.

Washington DC, Crescent-online
Friday February 7, 2014, 16:54 EST

In complete violation of the terms of the interim agreement signed with Iran in Geneva on November 24, the US has imposed new sanctions against three dozen companies and individuals doing business with Iran. The sanctions were announced yesterday by the US Treasury Department. David Cohen, a top Treasury department official warned companies that they risk heavy penalties if they expand trade with Iran.

Tehran has condemned the latest round of sanctions.

“The move by the US government is another instance of the country’s ill intention in the run-up to the future nuclear negotiations and it is indicative of the fact that the United States seeks to impose a new negative atmosphere on the talks just ahead of the new round of negotiations,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Friday.

“Not only will the measure end in failure, it will be also followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s reciprocal action,” Afkham added.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also slammed the latest US sanctions today as a violation of international law. The targeted entities operate in Turkey, Spain, Germany, Georgia, Afghanistan, Iran, Liechtenstein and the United Arab Emirates.

While US President Barack Obama says he wants to pursue the diplomatic option with Iran and resolve the nuclear issue, various US departments continue to slap additional sanctions. It appears as if some American officials—Cohen for instance, who is a well known Zionist—are pursuing the Israeli agenda.

Ms Afkham reaffirmed Tehran’s determination to pursue its inalienable rights and called on Washington to forget the illusion of changing Iran’s position under pressure.

A large number of trade and diplomatic delegations have been arriving in Tehran to expand trade ties. Ms Afkham pointed to these visits and urged the US to accept “realities of the 21st century” and end its hostile efforts against Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had also said a day earlier that the US should disabuse its mind of the notion that it can roll back Iran’s nuclear program. He said Iran will pursue its rights as stipulated in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

END