US imposes sanctions on Iranian foreign minister: Treasury statement

The US administration has imposed sanctions on Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in the latest effort by Washington to ratchet up its “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

Iran Press/America: Javad Zarif implements the reckless agenda of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and is the regime’s primary spokesperson around the world,” said Steven Mnuchin, US Treasury secretary. “The US is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime that its recent behaviour is completely unacceptable.”

The Trump administration has been increasing pressure on Iranian nation through sanctions, including measures that prevent Iran from selling oil. The US is apparently trying to persuade Tehran to come to the negotiating table to strike a deal to replace the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA that Trump unilaterally withdrew from last year.

The imposition of sanctions against the Zarif comes one month after Washington took the dramatic step of sanctioning the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. At that time, the US administration signaled that it was also considering imposing sanctions on Zarif.

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