WANA (Aug 26) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the president of the UN Security Council and UN member states, describing the latest U.S. measures against Iran as “economic terrorism” and calling for the condemnation of Washington’s sanctions and threats against countries maintaining lawful economic relations with Tehran.

 

In the letter, sent following the U.S. announcement of what it called an “economic expulsion operation,” Araghchi said Washington, after failing to achieve its objectives in the wars against Iran in 2025 and 2026 and failing to persuade other countries to join those wars, was now seeking to pursue the same objectives through economic pressure and threats of secondary sanctions.

 

The Iranian foreign minister said the stated purpose of the measures was to end other countries’ lawful economic relations with Iran, arguing that the use of secondary sanctions and threats to exclude countries from the U.S. financial system amounted to an attempt to extend American laws and policies beyond U.S. territory and restrict the sovereign decisions of independent states.

 

Citing the principle of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter, Araghchi said countries have the right to determine their economic and foreign policies without interference from other states. He warned that remaining silent in the face of systematic U.S. pressure could further normalize violations of the UN Charter and international law.

 

Warning of Humanitarian Consequences

Araghchi also criticized the impact of sanctions on civilians, arguing that the measures affect ordinary people without distinction and restrict their access to food, medicine, medical equipment, energy and other essential goods.

 

He said such measures undermine fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, food and an adequate standard of living, and called for the legal and criminal responsibility of those who order, direct, facilitate or knowingly implement such measures to be examined.

 

The Iranian foreign minister also referred to the October 3, 2018 ruling and order of the International Court of Justice, under which the United States was required to ensure the export to Iran of medicines and medical equipment, food and agricultural products, as well as certain equipment and services related to civil aviation safety, and to facilitate the transfer of payments related to them.

 

Araghchi said the latest U.S. measures were inconsistent with that judicial decision and represented a further escalation of economic pressure on Iran.

 

Iran Calls on UN to Act

Araghchi called on the UN Security Council and member states to condemn the use of unilateral coercive measures and secondary sanctions by the United States to pressure independent governments into changing their trade and economic relations with Iran.

 

He also urged countries not to recognize or implement measures that tie their sovereign rights to policies unilaterally determined by Washington, and called on them to demand that the United States end its threats and coercive measures targeting third countries and their nationals.

 

The Iranian foreign minister further called on the UN secretary-general to assess and report on the humanitarian and human rights consequences of the measures, including their impact on access to food, medicine, healthcare, energy, transportation and humanitarian assistance.

 

Araghchi said Iran reserved its right to pursue all available legal avenues to seek accountability, compensation and redress.

 

He concluded by stating that the U.S. measures give rise to international responsibility and called for the letter to be circulated as an official document of the UN Security Council.