Iranian men hold the flag of Hezbollah and shout slogans during an anti-Israel rally in Tehran, on October 8, 2024. – Iran warned Israel on October 8 against attacking any of its infrastructure amid fears of a possible Israeli assault on oil or nuclear sites following Iran’s missile barrage last week. Tehran says its attack on Israel, when some 200 missiles were fired, was a response to the death in a Beirut air strike of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah, and of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. (Photo by Agence France-Presse)
TEHRAN — Iran condemned Sunday what it called an “illegal and unjustified” expansion of US sanctions targeting its oil industry following Tehran’s missile attack on Israel earlier this month.
In a statement, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei defended his country’s attack on Israel and “strongly condemned” the sanctions, saying they were “illegal and unjustified.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe United States on Friday slapped the Middle Eastern nation with a spate of new sanctions on the country’s oil and petrochemical industry in response to Tehran’s October 1 attack against Israel.
FEATURED STORIES BUSINESS National ID gives more Filipinos ‘face value BUSINESS BIZ BUZZ: Unwinding Gogoro … quietly BUSINESS Polvoron maker seeks P500 million capital for expansionBaghaei defended Iran’s attack on Israel as being legal and insisted on Iran’s right to respond to the new sanctions.
READ: US expands sanctions vs Iran’s oil industry over Israel strikes
Article continues after this advertisementThe US Treasury Department said it targeted Iran’s so-called shadow fleet of ships involved in selling Iranian oil in circumvention of existing sanctions.
Article continues after this advertisementIt said it had designated at least 10 companies and 17 vessels as “blocked property” over their involvement in shipments of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.
Article continues after this advertisementThe State Department also announced it was placing sanctions on six further firms and six ships for “knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.”
Baghaei said “the policy of threats and maximum pressure” had no impact on “Iran’s will to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interests and citizens against any violation and foreign aggressions.”
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: US says new sanctions on Iran coming soon
He said the sanctions would enable Israel “to continue killing innocents and pose a threat to the peace and unity of the region and the world.”
The new wave of sanctions comes as the world awaits Israel’s promised response to Tehran’s missile attack, with oil prices hitting their highest levels since August.
Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden advised Israel against targeting oil infrastructure in Iran, one of the world’s 10 largest producers.
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Iran’s foreign ministergo777, Abbas Araghchi last Tuesday warned that “any attack against infrastructure in Iran will provoke an even stronger response.”
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