U.S. imposes sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif

The US Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a highly unusual action of penalising the top diplomat of another country.

The sanctions freeze any assets of Zarif in America, or controlled by US entities, the department said.

The Treasury Department said on Wednesday that it was imposing sanctions on Zarif for acting on behalf of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Zarif said the US move “has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interest outside of Iran”.

The Trump administration said it would make decisions on whether to grant Zarif a travel visa, including for trips to the United Nations, on a case by case basis, holding open the possibility that he might attend the annual UN General Assembly in September. Zarif last visited the UN in New York earlier this month.

Via Al Jazeera / US Department of the Treasury