The United States (US) has imposed new sanctions on Iran despite ongoing nuclear negotiations between the two countries, prompting Tehran to denounce Washington's contradictory positions, Press TV reported.
In a statement released on Monday, the US Department of State designated three Iranian nationals and a company called Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, claiming that they were involved in dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons.
The sanctions freeze any assets that the targeted people and entity may have in the US and bans business dealings with them.
The new sanctions came a day after Iran and the US held the fourth round of indirect talks aimed at sealing a new accord on Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of sanctions on Tehran.
Both sides have agreed in principle to continue the Oman-mediated negotiations.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that the timing of the next round of the talks has yet to be determined.
Takht-Ravanchi, who is a member of Iran's technical team in the talks, criticized the US government's contradictory behavior.
He said American officials' threatening and non-threatening statements fail to build confidence and instead cast doubts and suspicions on Washington's position.
“In their talks, they are interested in this work to proceed, and that is why we have held four rounds of talks, and the next round has not yet been scheduled, but it has been agreed upon in principle,” he said.
He added that Iranian people are under "deeply unjust" sanctions and that the country's diplomatic apparatus is trying to use its expertise to remove the bans.
"Sanctions are putting pressure on different segments of the population. Our effort in the diplomatic apparatus is to do our best to eliminate the sanctions within the framework of the country's policies," Takht-Ravanchi said.
bd-pratidin/GR
