Zarif slams US addiction to sanctions

“US addiction to sanctions is out of control. Iranian private bank key to food/medicine import is designated because of alleged EIGHT degrees of separation w/ another arbitrary target. In comparison, all humans on planet are connected by SIX degrees of separation. You do the math,” Zarif tweeted on Wednesday.

“Latest US sanctions violate 2 ICJ orders: to not impede humanitarian trade & to not aggravate the dispute. Utter disregard for rule of law & human rights of an entire people. US outlaw regime's hostility towards Iranians heightened by addiction to sanctions,” he added in a separate message.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman described the US' new sanctions list as part of psychological war against the Iranian people, and said it is blatant insult against legal and international mechanisms.

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Tuesday the inclusion of several other Iranian institutes in the list of sanctions.

In a statement, OFAC listed the sanctioned entities as Basij Cooperative Foundation, banks of Mehr Eqtesad, Mellat, Sina and Parsian.

Meanwhile, companies of Negin Sahel Royal, Sarmayegozari Tadbirgaran Atiyeh, Mehr Eqtesad Financial Group, Technotar Engineering and Taktar Investment were also sanctioned over alleged links to Mehr Eqtesad Investment Company.

Companies of Iran Tractor Manufacturing, Isfahan Foulad Mobarakeh, Andisheh-Mehvaran Investment, Bahman Automaking Group, Kalsimin, Holding of Developing Iran Zink Mines, Qeshm Zinc Melting and Reduction Complex, Asidsazan-e Zanjan, Parsian Catalyst Chemical and Bandar Abbas Zinc Production are among the other institutes targeted by the US sanctions.

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