Despite having withdrawn from the nuclear deal, Washington claims sanctions have been reactivated under a “snapback” mechanism, a move other signatories say is legally dubious.
Iran on Sunday called on the rest of the world to unite against the US, after Washington unilaterally declared UN sanctions against the Islamic republic were back in force.
"We expect the international community and all the countries in the world to stand against these reckless actions by the regime in the White House and speak in one voice," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference in Tehran.
In a speech on Sunday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said they would "give a crushing response to America's bullying".
Despite the tough rhetoric, US-imposed sanctions have dealt a massive blow to Iran’s economy.
The western superpower has been heavily criticized for the dire effect sanctions are having on ordinary Iranians.
"It's really difficult for the Iranian people right now. Whether these sanctions are reimposed or not, we are nonetheless living with utmost difficulties. It makes no difference to us," Leila Zangeneh, martial arts instructor, told AFP in Tehran.
“The reality is that Iran has no way forward but to negotiate. How long is it going to continue in this stubbornness? I'm not suggesting a 100% submission, but they still have to find a solution so that the US would drop these sanctions and stop making the situation more difficult,” she added.
Pompeo meanwhile told US-media on Sunday that, “The world needs to unite around the central idea that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the greatest threat.”
The United States on August 20 formally began the process of reactivating UN sanctions against Iran, a move deemed “illegitmate” by foreign powers due to the US withdrawal from the deal in 2018.
“The United States is initiating the restoration of virtually all UN sanctions on Iran lifted under UN Security Council Resolution 2231. This process will lead to those sanctions coming back into effect 30 days from today,” Pompeo said in August.
Washington is attempting to invoke a “snapback” mechanism described in the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), that restores United Nations sanctions against Iran that were lifted under the agreement.
Pompeo’s announcement has drawn widespread criticism from other countries still part of the nuclear deal.
“We cannot support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPOA,” stated a joint letter from the UK, France and Germany.
"The United States took this decisive action because, in addition to Iran’s failure to perform its JCPOA commitments, the Security Council failed to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran, which had been in place for 13 years," read a statement from the US State Department.
"The Security Council’s inaction would have paved the way for Iran to buy all manner of conventional weapons on October 18," the statement read. "Fortunately for the world, the United States took responsible action to stop this from happening.
