Iran Condemns New US Sanctions, Khamenei Rejects Talks

Iran has strongly condemned the United States’ latest round of sanctions targeting its oil industry, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissing the possibility of negotiations with Washington, Al Jazeera reports.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday denounced the sanctions, announced Thursday, as “illegitimate and unlawful,” according to the official IRNA news agency. The spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that the move to pressure Iran by restricting its legitimate trade with economic partners was unacceptable and held the United States responsible for the consequences of these “unilateral and bullying actions.”

The new sanctions, the first levied on Iran since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, target Iranian firms, ships, and individuals allegedly affiliated with companies already sanctioned by the US. These entities are accused of facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil to China annually, a practice the US aims to halt as part of its broader objective to bring Iran’s crude exports to zero and dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program.

The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei further fueled the tensions by declaring that negotiating with the US is “not smart, wise or honourable.” He argued that such talks would not resolve Iran’s problems, citing past experiences where Iran made concessions only to have previous agreements “torn up” by the US.

Khamenei specifically referenced the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark nuclear deal from which Trump unilaterally withdrew the US in 2018, reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran. The withdrawal and subsequent sanctions led Tehran to gradually roll back its compliance with the JCPOA’s limitations.

“Negotiating with America is neither smart, wise, or honourable. It will not solve any of our problems. The reason? Experience!” Khamenei said, emphasizing past concessions made by Iran.

He also issued a stark warning, stating that if the US threatens Iran’s security, Tehran “will threaten [the US’s] security.”

President Trump had suggested earlier in the week that he intended to increase pressure on Iran to ultimately reach a “verified nuclear peace agreement.”

Meanwhile, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom continue to hold diplomatic talks with Tehran, hoping to find a path towards reviving the JCPOA. Despite the renewed US pressure, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Iran remains open to giving the US a chance to resolve disputes.

Iran has consistently rejected sanctions targeting its oil sector, viewing attempts to seize its exports as “piracy.”