President: Iran cannot be sanctioned owing to numerous neighbors
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran cannot be subjected to sanctions due to its long borders with numerous neighbors.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in a meeting with several lawmakers after the United States announced a new set of sanctions against Iran.
Since taking office for the second term on January 20, US President Donald Trump has restored his so-called “maximum pressure” policy against Iran.
The US has so far imposed two rounds of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil supply chain.
On Monday, the US Treasury Scott Bessent announced sanctions against more than 30 Iran-linked people and vessels, including the head of the national oil company, for brokering the sale and shipment of Iranian oil.
“The United States will use all our available tools to target all aspects of Iran’s oil supply chain, and anyone who deals in Iranian oil exposes themselves to significant sanctions risk,” he added.
The new sanctions came after the US State Department imposed sanctioned on several entities and individuals in China, India and the UAE for their links to Iran’s oil sale on February 6.
Trump has issued a presidential memorandum which calls for the US to “drive Iran’s export of oil to zero.”
At the time of the memo’s signing in February, Trump said that “hopefully we’re not going to have to use it very much.”
“We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran,” the president said.
Iran’s president said on Monday that his government’s foreign policy strategy is dialogue, adding that the country’s officials are currently negotiating with other countries, including neighbors and European countries, on various issues.
However, he said that, “We cannot negotiate with someone who openly threatens us and squeezes our throat.”