Iran slams US ‘hypocrisy’ over sanctions on oil minister

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran slams what it calls US “hypocrisy” after President Donald Trump’s administration announced new sanctions on its Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei says in a statement that the move demonstrates US “hypocrisy,” as Washington has repeatedly called for nuclear talks with Tehran.

He adds that the sanctions serve as “another clear proof of the falsity of these statements and another sign of its hostility to development.”

On Thursday, the US Treasury Department said Iran “continues to use the proceeds from the nation’s vast oil resources to advance its narrow, alarming self-interests at the expense of the Iranian people.”

The sanctions also designate three entities engaged in the Iranian oil trade in China and name three shipping vessels as blocked property for their use in the transactions.

“These entities provide services to the ghost fleet vessels… enabling Iran’s attempts to disguise its illicit oil trade,” US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

The latest sanctions come after the Trump administration sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging negotiations and warning of possible military action if Iran refused.

Baqaei says Iran will conduct “a thorough assessment” before responding to the letter which was delivered Wednesday to Tehran by a senior United Arab Emirates diplomat.