Iran says US sanctions will fail as regional tensions escalate

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday that continued US sanctions against Iran would not achieve Washington’s objectives, arguing that the policy has repeatedly failed while placing its heaviest burden on ordinary people.

Tehran condemns US sanctions policy

Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Baqaei said Washington’s continued reliance on sanctions and pressure had produced no meaningful results. Citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, he argued that the measures primarily affect the Iranian population.

“Washington’s persistence in failed methods has no result other than proving America’s hatred for the Iranian people,” Baqaei said, claiming that US officials understand the consequences sanctions have for civilians.

He also criticized efforts to pressure other countries into restricting commercial ties with Iran, saying such measures undermine free trade and the sovereignty of states. Baqaei described Washington’s approach as a broader challenge to international rules and said it had generated criticism even among some US allies.

Iran says regional security talks proposed

Asked about reports that Iran had been invited to join the Mecca pact, Baqaei said Tehran had not received such an invitation. He said, however, that proposals had been put forward for discussions with participating countries concerning regional security.

The agreement was signed in early August by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan with the stated aim of expanding cooperation on collective security and defense while supporting stability across the region.

US-Iran tensions remain unresolved

The exchange comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following joint US and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February. Tehran responded with attacks targeting regional locations where US military assets are hosted, widening the scope of the confrontation.

Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 and subsequently began negotiations toward a broader agreement. Those talks later stalled amid disputes over security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor for international energy shipments and global trade.

Military confrontation adds pressure

Between July 8 and July 24, the United States and Iran carried out reciprocal military strikes. Washington targeted sites inside Iran, while Tehran struck US military facilities and equipment located in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The continuing dispute over sanctions, regional security and maritime access through Hormuz leaves the prospects for renewed US-Iran diplomacy uncertain as tensions persist across the Middle East.