CCTV News:In response to the US government’s announcement on July 31st to impose sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif, on August 1st, Iranian President Rouhani retorted that the US behavior was extremely naive, and he criticized the US government for losing its ability of rational thinking. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also issued a statement on the same day, saying that the US move is trying to suppress Iran’s arrogance against global hegemony, but this will not weaken Iran’s will.
Iranian President Rouhani responded in a televised speech that the US decision to sanction Iran’s foreign minister not only highlights the weakness of the US policy toward Iran, but also appears extremely naive. Rouhani sarcastically said, "The United States clamors for negotiations with Iran every day, and then imposes sanctions on the Iranian foreign minister. It seems that the US government has lost its ability to think and act rationally."
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards also issued a statement on the same day, saying that the US sanctions against Iran’s foreign minister were the result of "arrogant western countries" trying to suppress Iran’s expanding voice. The statement also stressed that sanctions against Iranian foreign minister will not shake and weaken Iran’s will, and Iran will continue to seek dignified development and establish a fair system of international relations under the guidance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On June 24th, the United States announced sanctions against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the institutions under his leadership. Us treasury secretary mnuchin said at the time that Zarif would be sanctioned later.
Zarif (data map)
On July 31, the United States announced sanctions against Zarif on the grounds that "Zarif acted on behalf of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei". According to the statement issued by the US Treasury Department on the same day, the assets of the sanctioned object in the United States will be frozen, American citizens are not allowed to trade with them, and foreign financial institutions that trade with the sanctioned object will also face sanctions.
In the early morning of August 1, Zarif responded on social media, "The reason why the United States is targeting me is that I am Iran ‘ Main speakers around the world ’ Are those truths really so painful for you? This sanction has no impact on me and my family, because I don’t have any assets and interests outside Iran. Thank you for treating me as a huge threat on your agenda. "
On August 1, local time, the French Foreign Ministry issued a press release saying that France, Britain and Germany were seriously concerned about the US government’s sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif, and the three countries did not support the US decision.
The communique said that under the current tense situation, all diplomatic channels must remain open. The foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany maintain regular contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif, aiming at easing tensions and urging Iran to fully implement the the Iranian nuclear deal. The communique urged the United States to lift the sanctions imposed by the United States on civilian nuclear cooperation projects allowed by the Iranian nuclear agreement.