World Opposes US Anti-Iran Policies

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says US policies and decisions are facing “practical opposition” across the world as Washington plans to re-impose sanctions on Iran’s vital oil-exporting and financial sectors, Press TV reported.

Zarif made the remarks in an interview with IRNA on Saturday on the sidelines of the 18th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Developing Countries (D-8) in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.

“Most countries except few ones have started opposing the US behavior, particularly over the re-imposition of unilateral sanctions,” the top Iranian diplomat said.

 The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that all sanctions on Iran lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), would be back in force on November 5.

According to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the sweeping sanctions will see 700 people blacklisted, including people who were granted relief under the JCPOA, as well as over 300 new names.

The White House also said it was “the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed” on Tehran. It targets both Iran and states that trade with it.

However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that Washington would allow eight countries to continue importing Iranian oil but only at much lower levels after the re-imposition of sanctions. Iran is currently the third-largest producer among the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Zarif further said the Islamic Republic had a “clear” stance on the US sanctions which he said were “illegal” and in violation of the nuclear agreement and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

“In fact, the US is pursuing an approach to international treaties and its obligations in the international community, which poses a serious danger to global order,” Zarif pointed out.

New US Sanctions against Iran Deal Another Blow to NPT – Russia

Meanwhile in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States is dealing another powerful blow to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) by unveiling new sanctions against Iran.

“A new round of anti-Iran sanctions announced by Washington is aimed at undermining the consistent efforts by the parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to preserve that deal,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Saturday.  according to IItar Tass.

“Washington’s policy aimed at scrapping international legal nuclear nonproliferation and arms control tools triggers profound disappointment and growing concern. The US is dealing another mighty blow to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, arguing hypocritically that it is essential to strengthen it, but, in actual fact, gearing up for its collapse”, the ministry added.

Moscow rejects any unilateral extraterritorial sanctions bypassing the UN Security Council’s decisions and affecting third countries’ interests, as was the case with Washington’s restrictive measures against Iran, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

It added that Russia strongly condemned the United States’ new destructive moves. Moscow will do everything it can to preserve and expand international trade, economic and financial cooperation with Iran despite the US sanctions.

H.M