United States imposes fresh sanctions on Iran; country responds vigorously

Unleashing the Fury – Iran's Fiery Response to U.S. Sanctions

Trade tension between Iran and the United States escalated once again, with Iran's official representative, Ismail Baghai, slamming the American sanctions against Tehran via a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Telegram channel.

Baghai Louisly criticized the fresh round of US sanctions targeting individuals and legal entities in Iran and several other countries, which he claimed were due to their cooperation with the Islamic Republic. He called the new restrictions yet another blatant demonstration of inconsistent decision-making and lack of goodwill and seriousness on the part of US officials in fostering diplomacy.

On April 30, the US tightened its grip through restrictions on seven organizations from Iran, the UAE, and Turkey. These entities allegedly facilitated Iranian oil and petrochemical sales, as well as the operation of two vessels. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the aim was to thwart the "illicit" export of oil and petrochemical products from the Islamic Republic, following the U.S.’s "maximum pressure" campaign to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero.

Referring back, Russia had earlier voiced its opinion on statements regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.

The U.S. has been stepping up its pressure on Iran’s nuclear and energy sectors, with repercussions rippling through related trade networks. On April 30, 2025, sanctions were levied against six entities and six individuals in Iran and China, accused of procuring materials for ballistic missile propellant. Earlier, on April 9, sanctions were imposed on five entities and one individual supporting Iran’s nuclear program, including suppliers to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

On the same date, the US added seven entities and two vessels to the sanctions list for aiding Iranian petroleum and petrochemical sales, also implicating an Iran-based inspection company involved in sanctions evasion. These measures aim to enforce the "maximum pressure" strategy to choke off Iranian oil exports. The Iranian rial took a hit, dropping to 815,000 per USD on April 30, signaling economic distress due to the sanctions.

Though the UAE and Turkey are not explicitly named in recent sanctions, their role in facilitating Iran's illicit trade remains a persistent challenge for sanctions enforcement. Iran, in response, is forging closer ties with BRICS (e.g., proposing anti-sanctions trade corridors and digital currencies) to minimize the impact of U.S. actions.

Negotiations towards a revised nuclear deal continue since April 2025, with the potential of sanctions relief if Iran caps its nuclear activities. However, recent sanctions demonstrate that the U.S. has shown no signs of relenting during negotiations. The E3 (France, Germany, UK) set a June 2025 deadline for Iran to agree to a nuclear deal, with the threat of reimposing “snapback” sanctions should Iran fail to comply.

Iranian official Ismail Baghai criticized the latest round of US sanctions targeting individuals and legal entities in Iran and several other countries, stating they were due to their cooperation with the Islamic Republic, deeming it a demonstration of inconsistent decision-making and lack of goodwill and seriousness on the part of US officials in fostering diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the aim of the new sanctions was to thwart the "illicit" export of oil and petrochemical products from the Islamic Republic, following the US’s "maximum pressure" campaign to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero.
Russia had earlier voiced its opinion on statements regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. petrochemical entities in Iran and China were levied sanctions on April 30, 2025, accused of procuring materials for ballistic missile propellant.
Iran is forging closer ties with BRICS (e.g., proposing anti-sanctions trade corridors and digital currencies) to minimize the impact of US actions, as the UAE and Turkey's role in facilitating Iran's illicit trade remains a persistent challenge for sanctions enforcement.