Iran Considers Expansion of US Sanctions Contrary to Geneva Agreement

Iran has protested against the expansion of the United States' sanctions list against the Islamic Republic, deeming this action contrary to the Geneva nuclear agreement. According to IRNA news agency, Marzieh Afkham, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Wednesday, January 1, that the recent sanctions "call into question America's willingness to resolve issues." According to Ms. Afkham, the expansion of Washington's sanctions list against Iran "has been carried out considering the internal political conditions in the United States" and this decision "has no practical impact on Iran's trade relations with other countries and foreign companies." The US Treasury Department added the names of five Iranians, one Afghan citizen, and three commercial companies to the sanctions list on January 1. The US government claims that some of these individuals and companies have helped Tehran evade international sanctions and some have been involved in human rights violations in Iran. However, Tehran emphasizes that this action is purely "political and propagandistic" and cannot affect "the Iranian government's will to fulfill its governmental duties and its efforts to meet the country's industrial needs." According to Ms. Afkham, "in a situation where negotiations between Iran and the 1+5 are ongoing, such a move is a clear violation of the principle of good faith and calls into question America's willingness to resolve issues." She also stated: "We do not consider ourselves bound by the unjust sanctions imposed against the legal and legitimate interests of the Iranian people." The next round of negotiations between Iran and the 1+5 group, which includes the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany, is scheduled to take place on January 15 at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the member countries in Geneva. According to Marzieh Afkham, these negotiations will be held both generally between Iran and the 1+5 and bilaterally and multilaterally among the countries. The statements made on Wednesday by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also contained references to recent developments in Bahrain and the arrest of Sheikh Ali Salman, the Secretary-General of the Shia Al-Wefaq party, which she described as "concerning." Marzieh Afkham, while calling for the release of Sheikh Ali Salman, said: "The Bahraini government's security approach to solving the internal problems of this country is wrong and it is necessary to abandon this approach to prevent the situation from becoming more complicated and to respect the people's demands because 'Al-Wefaq Society of Bahrain' is a legal society." She finally stated: "We hope the Bahraini government acts realistically and takes action to meet the demands of the people of this country." Sheikh Ali Salman, a leader of the Shia opposition in Bahrain, is accused of "overthrowing through the spread of violence." His arrest has led to protests by Shia clerics in Bahrain.