TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the latest US sanctions targeting its fuel network, describing the move as hostile and ill-timed ahead of a third round of nuclear negotiations.
In an official statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the new sanctions are a clear contradiction to Washington’s stated commitment to dialogue and negotiation.
He added that the action reflects a lack of goodwill and seriousness on the part of the United States.
The US Treasury Department on Tuesday placed sanctions on an Iranian shipping network and an individual, Asadoollah Emamjomeh, who, according to Washington, is the network’s owner.
It said in a statement that the network was “collectively responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets”.
“Emamjomeh and his network sought to export thousands of shipments of LPG — including from the United States — to evade US sanctions and generate revenue for Iran,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“The United States remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to provide the Iranian regime with the funding it needs to further its destabilising activities in the region and around the world,” it said.
Tehran and Washington held two rounds of indirect nuclear talks in Muscat and Rome, beginning on April 12.
In March, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for nuclear talks.
Iran slams US for imposing new sanctions
The Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baqaei, has strongly condemned the #UnitedStates for imposing new sanctions on a group of individuals and entities related to Iran's energy, oil, and gas sectors, as well as… pic.twitter.com/QLibHD0HYI
— Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) April 23, 2025
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are leading the negotiations, with Oman mediating. On Monday, Trump said Washington had “very good meetings” on Iran.
In 2018, during former President Donald Trump’s first term, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed stringent sanctions on Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said that he is neither overly optimistic nor unduly pessimistic about the ongoing nuclear talks with the US, acknowledging that the talks may or may not lead to a breakthrough.
