US State Department: Tough Measures Against Iran Are to Combat Terrorism and Improve Human Rights
The spokesperson for the US State Department said in a tweet that tough measures against Iran are aimed at combating terrorism abroad and improving human rights within the country.
Heather Nauert said on November 21 that “We need to take strong measures against Iran to stop terrorism and violence outside its borders and to improve the human rights situation inside.”
Ms. Nauert then added “We will continue to support the voices of Iranians and strengthen international support for our efforts.”
According to the US State Department spokesperson, “The world must unite to tell Iran’s wrongdoings: no.”
Heather Nauert, while referring to remarks by the US Ambassador to London, emphasized that American sanctions are not intended to include humanitarian matters.
US government officials have emphasized this point in recent weeks.
Ms. Nauert, referring to part of the US Ambassador’s remarks in London, said “Targeting humanitarian trade has never been US policy. Our sanctions aim to change the destructive behavior of the Iranian government.”
On Wednesday, Iran’s Medical Association sent a letter to Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, warning about the consequences of American sanctions on Iran’s medical and pharmaceutical needs.
In November, a number of Iranian artists, activists, cultural figures and journalists, in an open letter, stated that the belief that “the result of implementing sanctions would be achieving civil rights and human rights, enjoying the benefits of freedom and improving living conditions for the Iranian people” was “naive” and “the Iranian people will pay the price of these sanctions.”
On the other hand, American officials say it is the Islamic Republic’s policies, particularly regarding the country’s spending abroad, that have created problems, not American sanctions.
Brian Hook, the US State Department’s Special Representative for Iran, said that the aim of American sanctions is not to undermine humanitarian trade, including food and medicine, and the Iranian government is providing false information to people in this regard.
According to Mr. Hook, the exceptions that the United States has provided are for the benefit of the Iranian people, but the Iranian government, which is responsible for economic problems, shortages of basic needs and water scarcity, is providing false information to the Iranian people about this matter.
Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran last spring, and sanctions against Iran have been implemented in two rounds, most recently in November. American officials have said they intend to bring Iranian oil exports to zero. Oil and gas make up a large portion of Iran’s total exports.
Source: Radio Farda
