US imposes sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister

The sanctions against Zarif would block any property or interests he has in the United States, but the Iranian foreign minister said he had none.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The decision potentially hurt chances of diplomatic talks amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Zarif was an important figure in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal agreed under the administration of President Barack Obama with Tehran and other world powers. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal last year.

“Javad Zarif implements the reckless agenda of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and is the regime’s primary spokesperson around the world. The United States is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime that its recent behavior is completely unacceptable,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Strains between Washington and Tehran have risen in recent months after attacks on tankers in the Gulf that the United States blames on Iran and Iran’s downing of a U.S. drone that prompted preparations for a U.S. retaliatory air strike that Trump called off at the last minute.

The sanctions against Zarif would block any property or interests he has in the United States, but the Iranian foreign minister said he had none.

“The US’ reason for designating me is that I am Iran’s ‘primary spokesperson around the world’,” Zarif said on Twitter. “Is the truth really that painful? It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran. Thank you for considering me such a huge threat to your agenda.”