TEHRAN, March 14, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Iran on Friday slammed what it called US
"hypocrisy" after President Donald Trump's administration announced new
sanctions on its oil minister Mohsen Paknejad.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement the move
demonstrates US "hypocrisy", as Washington has repeatedly called for nuclear
talks with Tehran.

He added the sanctions serve as "another clear proof of the falsity of these
statements and another sign of its hostility to development."

On Thursday, the US Treasury Department said Iran "continues to use the
proceeds from the nation's vast oil resources to advance its narrow, alarming
self-interests at the expense of the Iranian people."

The sanctions also designate three entities engaged in the Iranian oil trade
in China, and name three shipping vessels as blocked property for their use
in the transactions.

"These entities provide services to the ghost fleet vessels...enabling Iran's
attempts to disguise its illicit oil trade," US State Department spokeswoman
Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

The latest sanctions come after the Trump administration sent a letter to
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging negotiations and warning
of possible military action if Iran refused.

Baqaei said Iran will conduct "thorough assessment" before responding to the
letter which was delivered Wednesday to Tehran by senior a United Arab
Emirates diplomat.