Zarif Comments on New Sanctions: US Will Fail To Achieve Its Goals

Local Editor

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shrugged off the forthcoming US sanctions against the Islamic Republic, saying Washington would fail to achieve its goals by imposing new bans on Iran.

Speaking upon his arrival in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, Zarif added that nothing new would happen after the imposition of the second batch of US sanctions on November 4.

Earlier in May, US President Donald Trump announced America’s pulling out of the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], which lifted nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program.

A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector. A second round will be targeting Iran's energy sector and financial transactions.

"The possibility that the US will be able to achieve its economic goals through these sanctions is very remote and there is certainly no possibility that it will attain its political goals through such sanctions," Zarif said, stressing that the new US sanctions would mainly have "psychological effects."

Zarif added that the European Union would approve the establishment of a mechanism by November 4, which aims to bypass American sanctions and to allow the continuation of trade between Tehran and EU member states.

"However, due to the US pressure, it may take some time before this mechanism becomes fully operational," Zarif noted, expressing hope that the implementation of the strategies devised between Iran and the EU would lead to further US isolation within the international community.

"Today, except for some regional regimes, no country supports the US measures against Iran," Zarif pointed out.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team