Iran condemns US sanctions as economic terrorism

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The Iranian government on Friday stated that the United States’ Operation Economic Outcast campaign against Tehran violates international law, describing the latest sanctions effort as “economic terrorism.”

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Washington of using the US dollar as a tool to pressure other countries into aligning with its policies towards Tehran, saying such actions violate national sovereignty and international law.

“The operation is America’s way of terrorising Iran and the world,” the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the operation reflects an intention to cause suffering to the Iranian people and deprive them of their human rights.

“It is an ‘international crime’ and a ‘crime against humanity’,” the statement said.

Iran stated that US economic sanctions against Iran violate the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and human rights, and urged countries not to implement them.

Tehran also asserted that participation in unilateral US sanctions means complicity in imposing Washington’s will on independent nations and disrupting their legitimate economic and trade relations.

The ministry pledged to use “all capabilities” to defend the homeland against what it called “US-Israeli military-economic attacks and hybrid warfare.”

The US launched Operation Economic Outcast on Monday, targeting what Washington described as Iran’s key economic pathways, including its oil, shipping, aviation, gold, technology, and digital asset sectors.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the campaign aims to isolate Iran from the global financial system, while Washington also blacklisted more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels worldwide.