Iran says US sanctions breach sovereignty of other nations

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned a recent statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, characterising it as a “return to full‑scale classic colonialism.” In a press briefing on Tuesday, Baghaei referenced Trump’s latest threat to impose additional economic sanctions and consider “direct action” against Iran if Tehran continued to defy what he described as “unfair American policies.” The remarks came amid renewed diplomatic friction over Iran’s nuclear program and the United States’ decision to withdraw from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018.

Baghaei’s response highlighted Tehran’s view that the United States is attempting to reassert hegemonic control in the region, a claim he said undermines international law and the sovereignty of nations. He urged the global community to reject any measures that would “re‑impose colonial‑era coercion” and called for renewed dialogue based on mutual respect. The Iranian foreign ministry did not indicate any immediate policy shift, but the exchange underscores the heightened tensions surrounding U.S. pressure on Iran and the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.