Iran complains to UN over new US sanctions

Tehran says punishment over ballistic missile program breaches part of nuclear deal

By AP 1 August 2017, 5:22 pm
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, speaks to media as he attends the Executive Committee Meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation on August 1, 2017 in Istanbul. (AFP/ OZAN KOSE)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has complained to the UN Security Council over the latest US sanctions imposed on Tehran.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani announced the complaint on Tuesday, though it’s unclear what Iran expects the United Nations would do.

The move came after the US Senate approved sanctions on Friday against Iran for launching a satellite-carrying rocket into space.

The US legislation imposes mandatory penalties on people involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and anyone who does business with them. It would also apply terrorism sanctions to Iran’s prestigious Revolutionary Guard and enforce an arms embargo. It now goes to US President Donald Trump for signing.

Iran’s re-elected Parliament speaker Ali Larijani (C) is congratulated by MPs following the announcement of the results during a parliament session in Tehran on May 29, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / ATTA KENARE)

Iran has said the US legislation amounts to a “hostile” breach of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

“Iran’s JCPOA supervisory body assessed the new US sanctions (on Tehran) and decided that they contradict parts of the nuclear deal,” speaker of the Iranian parliament Ali Larijani was quoted by the Tasnim news agency as having said.

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