Iran on Tuesday accused the United States of having cut “permanently” the path of diplomacy and lying about its intention to negotiate, the day after the announcement of new US sanctions this time of senior Iranian leaders whose supreme guide.
While reinforcing the pressure in an already ultra-sophisticated context after attacks of unknown origin against oil tankers and the destruction of an American drone by Iran in the Gulf strategic region, US President Donald Trump has also increased calls for direct dialogue with Tehran.
On Monday, he announced mainly symbolic sanctions aimed at the Iranian number one Ali Khamenei but also the head of diplomacy Mohammad Javad Zarif, face of the Iranian policy of relaxation with the West, considered a moderate and abhorred ultraconservatives Iran.
“At the same time that you are calling for negotiations, you are seeking to sanction the Foreign Minister! It is obvious that you are lying,” responded Iranian President Hassan Rohani.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that “imposing sterile sanctions on Iran’s supreme leader and the head of diplomacy” amounted to “permanently closing the path of diplomacy”.
Trump signed a decree preventing “the Supreme Leader, his team and others who are closely linked to him from having access to essential financial resources”. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions would freeze “billions of dollars in assets” and that Zarif should be placed on the sanctions list “this week”.
– Moscow supports Tehran on the drone –
“Sanctions for what?” Rohani said. “To freeze the assets of the Guide? But our leaders are not like those of other countries that have billions on foreign accounts for you to punish, seize or block.” “This White House is suffering from mental disorders, it does not know what to do” !.
Iran and the United States broke off diplomatic relations in 1980 after the Islamic Revolution and the taking of hostages at the US embassy. An opening was made possible under the American administration of Barack Obama with the conclusion in 2015 of an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear power.
Through this pact, Tehran pledged to never seek to acquire atomic weapons and drastically limit its nuclear program in exchange for the partial lifting of international sanctions that stifled its economy.
But since coming to power, Mr. Trump has adopted a fiercely hostile attitude to Iran accusing him of seeking the atomic weapon and “sponsoring terrorism.” In 2018 he withdrew his country from the nuclear agreement and reinstated economic sanctions.
Tehran, for its part, has always denied wanting to acquire the atomic weapon.
In recent months, the standoff has escalated with exchanges of invectives, US military reinforcements in the region and especially with the destruction on June 20 of an American drone by an Iranian missile -in space Iranian air force according to Tehran, in Washington’s international airspace.
Tuesday, Russia, Iran’s ally, adopted the Iranian version, the Secretary of its Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, saying “have information from the Russian Ministry of Defense” that the drone was well “in Iranian airspace “.
– New frictions –
Faced with fears of a fire, Paris, Berlin, London and Beijing, stakeholders in the nuclear agreement they still defend, called for de-escalation.
In the aftermath of the drone’s destruction, Trump said he had canceled strikes against Iranian targets in extremis. According to US media, however, he has secretly authorized cyberattacks against Iran’s missile launch systems and spying network. Tehran assured that it did not suffer any damage.
On the day of the announcement of the new US sanctions, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two oil allied states of Washington and major regional rivals of Tehran.
The attacks on oil tankers in May and June – attributed by Washington to Iran who denied – and the destruction of the drone near the Strait of Hormuz, a key crossing point for the world oil trade, pushed up oil prices. black gold and caused fears for the transport of crude via this seaway.
On Wednesday, the Security Council holds a meeting on the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, while new friction is expected with the announcement by Iran that its enriched uranium reserves will exceed Thursday the limit provided by this pact.
Until then, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has always certified that Iran is honoring its commitments under the nuclear deal.
