Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday dismissed Washington’s threat of fresh sanctions against Tehran, describing the move as a sign of desperation and insisting that renewed economic pressure would fail.
“We have never been afraid. All of their actions — whether blockades or other military moves they have made — have failed, and this new issue of theirs will fail as well,” Araghchi said.
The foreign minister maintained that Washington had no viable alternative to negotiations, saying the United States must engage with Iran on the basis of respect, justice and dignity.
“The US has no way forward other than dialogue with the Iranian nation with respect,” Araghchi said, according to Iran’s state-owned Press TV.
Separately, Iranian news agency ISNA quoted Araghchi as describing US President Donald Trump’s “economic war” as “the same old American bullying.”
“The economic war is a repetitive scenario and the same perennial bullying in American policies,” he said. “This is a repetitive film that we have seen many times and we know how to confront it.”
His remarks come amid expectations that Washington will impose additional sanctions on Iran, adding to tensions between the two countries.