Iran responded to President Trump’s decision to impose tough sanctions on Tehran by declaring a “permanent closure” of a path of diplomacy between the two nations.
The statement from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the latest rhetorical volley between the two nations after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard downed an unmanned US aircraft.
“Imposing useless sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and the commander of Iran’s diplomacy (Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif) is the permanent closure of the path of diplomacy,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted.
“Trump’s desperate administration is destroying the established international mechanisms for maintaining world peace and security.”
Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office on Monday to levy sanctions against Khamenei and other top Iranian officials.
“Sanctions imposed through the executive order that I’m about to sign will deny the Supreme Leader and the Supreme Leader’s Office, and those closely affiliated with him and the office, access to key financial resources and support,” Trump said.
“The assets of Ayatollah Khomeini and his office will not be spared from the sanctions.”
Trump intended to name Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Instead Trump referenced Ayatollah Khomeini, who died in 1989.
