On August 1, Tehran warned that new U.S. legislation calling for tighter sanctions would “further complicate” negotiations on its controversial nuclear program. “Imposing sanctions against Iran is a failed policy,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi. On July 31, the U.S. House voted 400-20 to coerce buyers of Iranian oil to find alternative suppliers — or risk heavy penalties in business dealings with the United States. The bill, if passed by the Senate, would also blacklist Tehran’s automobile and mining industries. The following are excerpted remarks by Araghchi.
Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Ministry spokesman
“Imposing sanctions against Iran is a failed policy and will definitely not help find a logical solution to the existing problems, especially with regard to negotiations on the nuclear issue.
“This measure has been taken without paying attention to the political development and the use of experts, and is a blatant example of unjust measures in an unjust time.
“This measure has been taken without paying attention to the political development and the use of experts, and is a blatant example of unjust measures in an unjust time.
“The only impact the imposition of sanctions will have is to further complicate the settlement of the existing issues, and will certainly offer no solution to any problem.
“[The bill] simply indicates that neoconservative unilateralism dominates multilateral sovereignty in the American administration.” August 1 comment to the press