In this May 24, 2021 file photo, the flag of Iran waves in front of the International Center building with the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. (FLORIAN SCHROETTER / AP)
TEHRAN- The imposition of new sanctions by the United States amid transparent negotiations in Vienna on the restoration of a 2015 nuclear deal indicates Washington's ill will and lack of seriousness in the talks, the Iranian government spokesman said on Tuesday.
Making the remarks at a weekly press conference, Ali Bahadori Jahromi said the imposition of such kinds of sanctions is clearly indicative of US animosity toward the Iranian people, according to the official news agency IRNA.
ALSO READ: Iran blames US for halt to Vienna nuclear talks
Ianian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh slammed the newly-imposed sanctions as another sign of Washington's ill intent on the Iranian nation, saying the move shows America would not miss any opportunity to exert pressure on the country
On March 30, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on an Iran-based procurement agent and his network of companies for providing assistance to Iran's ballistic missile program.
The US Treasury said the new sanctions target the companies that procured ballistic missile propellant-related materials for a unit of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps that is responsible for the research and development of ballistic missiles.
On the next day, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh slammed the newly-imposed sanctions as another sign of Washington's ill intent on the Iranian nation, saying the move shows America would not miss any opportunity to exert pressure on the country.
ALSO READ: Nuke deal: Iran urges US to forgo excessive demands
Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with the world powers in July 2015. However, former US president Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting Iran to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement in retaliation.
Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, to revive the deal.
ALSO READ: Iran eyes economic dividends in Vienna talks
Iran insists on obtaining guarantees that the succeeding US administrations would not drop the deal again and calls for the lifting of the sanctions in a verifiable manner.