WANA (Dec 23) – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister has condemned the United States for detaining Iranian nationals under the pretext of circumventing illegal sanctions, calling the actions a violation of international law.

 

Vahid Jalalzadeh, Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs, Parliamentary Relations, and Iranian Expatriates, criticized the U.S. in a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). His remarks followed the arrest of two Iranian citizens in the United States and Italy based on orders from U.S. judicial and security authorities.

 

“Unilateral and oppressive U.S. sanctions, along with any actions stemming from these illegal measures—including the detention of Iranians under various pretexts—constitute a violation of international law and are strongly condemned,” Jalalzadeh stated on December 22.

 

He further emphasized Iran’s commitment to protecting the rights of its citizens worldwide, declaring, “It is our duty to defend the rights of Iranians wherever they are.”

 

Some days ago, the U.S. Justice Department charged two Iranian nationals in connection with a January 2024 drone attack on a U.S. military base in northeastern Jordan, which killed three soldiers and injured over 30.

 

The suspects, Mehdi Sadeghi, an Iranian-American from Massachusetts, and Mohammad Abedini, arrested in Italy, are accused of attempting to export electronic components to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Abedini also faces charges of supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

 

The drone attack targeted a U.S. military facility known as “Tower 22” in the Rukban region of northeastern Jordan in January 2024. The assault resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers and injuries to more than 30 others. However, Iran has denied any involvement in the attack.