Iran has accused the United States of violating international law by threatening sanctions against countries and companies that maintain economic ties with Tehran, saying Washington is using its financial power to interfere with the sovereignty and independent foreign-policy decisions of other nations.
Iran has criticised the United States over its latest sanctions threats, arguing that Washington is exceeding its authority by attempting to pressure other countries and companies over their economic relations with Tehran.
Iranian officials described the US approach as a violation of international law and national sovereignty. Tehran argues that individual countries should be free to decide whom they trade with and that Washington should not be able to impose its domestic sanctions policy on businesses and governments outside the United States.
The dispute centres largely on the use of secondary sanctions. Under this approach, the US can threaten penalties against foreign companies or financial institutions that continue certain dealings with sanctioned Iranian entities. Such measures can make international businesses reluctant to maintain commercial ties with Iran because of the risk of losing access to the American financial system.
Iran Calls Sanctions Economic Pressure
Iran has repeatedly opposed the use of unilateral sanctions, saying they have become a tool for imposing political pressure rather than simply regulating US companies and institutions.
Tehran argues that broad sanctions can affect ordinary economic activity, including trade, investment and access to international markets. Iranian officials have therefore called on other countries to resist what they describe as extraterritorial US pressure.
The latest criticism comes as Washington continues efforts to restrict Iranian sources of revenue and increase economic pressure on the country.
US Position
The United States maintains that sanctions are an important part of its foreign-policy strategy toward Iran. Washington has used financial restrictions and other penalties to target individuals, organisations and commercial networks it says contribute to activities that threaten US interests or support Iran's military and strategic programmes.
From the US perspective, foreign companies remain free to make their own decisions, but they may face consequences if their activities involve entities covered by American sanctions.
Wider International Dispute
The disagreement has implications beyond Iran and the United States. Countries that maintain commercial relationships with Tehran could face a difficult choice between continuing those relationships and protecting their access to the US-led international financial system.
China and other countries have previously objected to the extraterritorial use of US sanctions, arguing that Washington should not determine the economic policies of independent states.
For Iran, the issue is therefore not only about individual sanctions. Tehran sees the broader sanctions policy as an attempt to influence its international relations and limit its ability to participate in global trade.
The dispute highlights the continuing divide between Washington and Tehran and the wider debate over how far one country's sanctions can legally reach beyond its own borders.