WANA (May 23) – The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Esmaeil Baghaei, criticized the multilayered sanctions imposed by the U.S. as having no purpose other than to deprive each and every Iranian citizen of their fundamental human rights, and therefore, they constitute a crime against humanity.

 

In a post on the social media platform X, Esmaeil Baghaei, referring to the continuation of U.S. sanctions against Iran, wrote:

 

“Marco Rubio’s State Department hit a new low in American long history of unlawful coercive & hostile measures against the Iranian nation by further expanding their unlawful sanctions to construction sector and home building.

 

That’s as outrageous as it is unlawful and inhuman. The United States multi-layered sanctions & coercive measures against Iran have all been calibrated to deprive each and every Iranian citizen of their basic human rights, and as such these sanctions are no less than crimes against humanity.

 

The U.S.’s consecutive rounds of sanctions only reinforce our people’s deeply held belief that the American decision makers are set to make every malign effort to hinder Iran’s development & progress.

 

These sanctions, announced on the eve of the fifth round of Iran-U.S. indirect talks, further put to question the American willingness & seriousness for diplomacy. Our nation is resolved to remain steadfast & strong in the face of such absurd animosity.”

 

The first round of these indirect talks between Iran and the U.S., mediated by Oman, was held on April 12 in Muscat, and the second round of talks took place in Rome on Saturday, April 19, again with Oman as the intermediary.

 

The third round of talks, which took place on Saturday, April 26, was also in Oman. Iran and the United States concluded their fourth round of indirect negotiations in Muscat on Sunday, May 11. The fifth round is set to take place today.