Renewed anti-Iran sanctions demonstrate the United States' lack of ability to work with other members of the international community, a senior official said on Monday, dismissing the new economic restrictions as part of a propaganda campaign.
"The United States has pulled out of a number of international agreements and showed that it cannot work within the framework of international mechanisms and is isolated," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi told a regular press briefing in Tehran, ISNA reported.
This does not reflect the US wisdom or power, but is rather a manifestation of its inability to work with the international community, he added.
In May, US President Donald Trump exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and reintroduced a first round of sanctions on Tehran in August.
Washington reimposed the second round of sanctions against Iran on Monday, restoring measures lifted under the nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of former US president, Barack Obama, and adding 300 new designations, including Iran's oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors, according to Reuters.
"The sanctions are nothing but part of a US psychological warfare and its anti-Iran attitude," Qasemi said, adding that America's economic pressure on Iran will prove futile.
"The US administration is addicted to imposing sanctions and it is difficult for Trump to give up this habit," he said.
> EU Financial Mechanisms
The official also noted that the financial mechanism proposed by the European Union to keep trade open despite US sanctions is expected to be finalized in the near future.
"Financial measures usually take time to be put into place due to their complicated nature but good progress has been made in this regard," he said.
"There are signs that show Europe is serious and we hope that they will be able to play their historic role as a significant bloc on the world stage."
The EU recently proposed that a Special Purpose Vehicle be set up to facilitate trade with Iran and circumvent US sanctions against the country's oil exports with the aim of salvaging the landmark nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Asked about the fact that Washington has said it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil, Qasemi said the Americans will soon come to the conclusion that their "bullying" policies cannot be implemented due to the sensitivity of the global energy market.
"The integrated nature of the international community will not allow the United States to exert power," he said, adding that Washington will soon be compelled to revise its policies.
