Anti-Iran Sanctions Detrimental to US, Allies in Long Term

US President Donald Trump cannot continue the sanctions and pressures against the Islamic Republic in the long term, Amir Abdollahian said in a live TV program late on Saturday.

“Continuation of this trend (economic sanctions) will be to the detriment of the US and its allies,” he added.

The top adviser further pointed to the country’s progress since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and said, “For 40 years, the great people of Iran have endured sanctions and gained significant progress in the wake of these sanctions.” 

The remarks came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the JCPOA.

Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.

Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.

On the first anniversary of the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran announced that it would suspend the implementation of some of its commitments under the deal, announcing that it would stop exporting excess uranium and heavy water, setting a 60-day deadline for the five remaining parties to the deal to take practical measures towards ensuring its interests in the face of the American sanctions.

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