Iran has condemned a new wave of US sanctions on its oil and petrochemical industries as “illegal and unjustified” following Tehran’s recent missile attack on Israel.
In a statement on Sunday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei defended Iran’s actions and strongly criticized the expanded sanctions, labeling them as unjust.
The United States introduced fresh sanctions on Friday targeting Iran’s “shadow fleet” of ships involved in selling Iranian oil to bypass existing restrictions. The US Treasury Department announced the designation of at least 10 companies and 17 vessels linked to shipments of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.
In response, Baghaei reiterated that Iran’s missile strike on Israel earlier in the month was within its legal rights and condemned the sanctions as a means for Washington to protect Israeli interests. He stated that the sanctions serve to enable Israel “to continue killing innocents” and threaten regional peace.
The US sanctions come at a time of heightened tensions, with global oil prices surging to their highest levels since August. The Biden administration has advised Israel against targeting Iranian oil infrastructure, warning of further escalation in the conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously warned that any strike on Iranian infrastructure would lead to a stronger retaliatory response.
