Iran says the United States and its European allies have repeatedly used unilateral sanctions as “an illegal tool” against the Islamic Republic.






“Resorting to these sanctions is illegal and is a violation of the legal rights of the Iranian nation and is a violation of human rights,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran on Monday.

Kanaani was referring to sanctions imposed by the United States and its European allies – France, Britain, and Germany – on Iran throughout the years, especially after the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and employed a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

“We believe that three European countries failed as much as the United States did in honoring the JCPOA obligations and should be held accountable,” he said.

He said despite their violations of the terms of the agreement, they go on to make unfounded accusations against Iran and impose illegal sanctions against the country.

“Iran reserves the right to show a proportionate, balanced and serious response,” he added.

Touching upon the recent visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to Azerbaijan, the spokesman said the two countries are fortunately on their way to good and constructive cooperation.

The two also agreed to get bilateral ties back to normal after the late January attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in the Iranian capital, in which one staff member was killed and two others were injured.

By IRNA