Sanctions lose edge in excessive use, says Iran

TEHERAN－Western and US sanctions have become "a blunt sword" after excessive use, said Abolfazl Amoui, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament, on Saturday.

A number of countries are thinking about de-dollarizing their trade by using local currencies, Amoui told the official IRNA news agency.

Russian and Iranian banks have already adopted new financial mechanisms for trade transactions excluding the dollar, he said.

The spokesman also dismissed US concerns regarding military and technological cooperation between Iran and Russia, including drone technology.

"America is not in a position to set a task for bilateral cooperation between Iran and Russia," he said. "The recent developments have not caused any disruption to this cooperation."

The presence of foreign forces in West Asia will "cause more insecurity rather than creating security", Amoui said, hinting at US President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East.

Teheran said on Saturday that Iran has imposed sanctions on 61 more US citizens, including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday dismissed Biden's recent claims over Iran's nuclear activity as a "failed policy of promoting Iranophobia", which seeks to cause tensions and crises in the region. Biden's anti-Iran remarks made during his Middle East visit are "part of Washington's policy of inciting sedition and fomenting tensions in the region", the FM spokesman said.

Xinhua - Agencies