Iran Slams EU for Failing to Defy "US Economic Terrorism"

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif strongly criticized the European Union (EU) for its failure to act against the US unilateral economic sanctions re-imposed against Iran.

News ID: 76595

Date: 04 April 2019 - 19:00

"A year after the US' unlawful abrogation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Europe cannot muster political will to defy US' #EconomicTERRORISM, not even by setting up a single banking channel for humanitarian aid," Zarif wrote on his Twitter page on Wednesday.

The Iranian foreign minister reiterated that the three European countries are instead busy appeasing @realDonaldTrump by pressuring UN over "our defensive capabilities".

The term "economic terrorism" was used by Zarif when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promoted fake news with regard helping Iranian flood-stricken people.

On Tuesday night, Zarif in a message slammed Pompeo for his untrue statement that Washington is seeking to help the flood-hit people of Iran.

"Real news as @ICRC President noted, Iranian Red Crescent cannot receive any funds due to illegal US sanctions. US should own up to its ECONOMIC TERRORISM," Zarif wrote on his Twitter page.

The Iranian foreign minister categorically dismissed Pompeo's claims that the US is sympathizing with the flood-hit Iranians, and said that Washington should be accountable to its economic terrorism.

Unprecedented heavy rains caused floods in various parts of Iran over the past two weeks. Scores of people were killed and injured and a large number were displaced across Iran.

"FAKE NEWS: @SecPompeo claim that US 'ready to assist @ifrc, which would direct money through Iranian Red Crescent for relief," Zarif added.

Also earlier on Tuesday, Zarif blasted US President Donald Trump for his hostile attitude towards the Islamic Republic, and said that the new round of unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran is an act of economic terrorism.

"@realDonaldTrump's maximum pressure—flouting UNSC Res 2231 & ICJ ruling—is impeding aid efforts by IranianRedCrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods. Blocked equipment includes relief choppers," Zarif wrote on his Twitter page.

"This isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM," the Iranian foreign minister added.

In relevant remarks earlier, Head of Shemiranat Red Crescent Society Hassan Farahani in meeting with Norwegian envoy to Iran Lars Nordrum alluded to sanctions which made difficult the process of sending international aids to Iran's Red Crescent Society.

"Sanctions have increased pressure on people, specially those who were damaged in incidents," Farahani said.

Also last week, Zarif underlined that Trump is doing his best to make believe that his policies vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic have not failed, reiterating that the people of Iran will never bow to sanctions and pressures.

"Trump is grasping at every straw to portray his failed policies on Tehran as a success," Zarif said.

The Iranian foreign minister stressed that Iranians will never succumb to pressures.

"The Only thing proven is that he (Trump) rejoices over the misery that he thinks he has imposed on ordinary Iranians. Like his predecessors, he will learn that Iranians never submit to pressure," Zarif said in a post on his Twitter account on Sunday.

Trump has been pursuing a "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran by using economic sanctions to choke the country’s income sources.

The US president withdrew his country from the multilateral Iran nuclear agreement on May 8, 2018.

In November, the Trump administration announced the re-imposition of the “toughest” sanctions ever against Iran's banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off the country's oil sales and crucial exports.

The first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector.

In February 2019, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the Iranian nation would stand firm in the face of an “economic” and “psychological” war being waged by the United States against the Islamic Republic.

"Washington is targeting the Iranian nation with an economic, propaganda and psychological war," President Rouhani said addressing a cabinet meeting in Tehran.

President Rouhani's remarks came after Zarif said all US plots against the Islamic Republic have failed thanks to the nation’s steadfastness in the face of Washington’s pressure tactics that have always proved to have reverse outcomes for the US.

"It is necessary for all those friends who are pursuing Iran’s foreign policy to realize that we owe everything to these people. Our attitude towards security is based on domestic development and progress, and the more they exert pressure on us, the more we will rely on the nation," Zarif added.

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