Kathmandu— Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei sharply criticized the United States on Tuesday for its ongoing sanctions policy against Iran, following a statement by US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent that sanctions were “suffocating” the Iranian economy. Baqaei accused Washington of being “addicted” to economic restrictions as a substitute for diplomacy, alleging that the US escalates sanctions when diplomatic efforts fail to achieve desired outcomes. The exchange highlights escalating tensions between the two nations amid stalled negotiations and continued economic pressure on Iran.

US Sanctions Policy Under Fire

Baqaei directly responded to Secretary Bessent’s claim of “suffocating” Iran with sanctions, stating that it revealed a “compulsive addiction” within US policy. He argued that Washington consistently resorts to economic restrictions when unable to achieve its goals through diplomatic channels. According to Baqaei, this pattern extends beyond mere policy and has become an ingrained habit, even hindering rational decision-making.

Escalation Despite Limited Results

The Iranian spokesperson further asserted that the US increases the intensity of sanctions when initial measures fail to yield the desired results. “Whenever Washington proves itself incapable of pursuing diplomacy, it retreats into sanctions; and whenever those sanctions fail to produce results, it simply increases the dose,” Baqaei said. He warned that this approach risks damaging any potential for a less problematic resolution to ongoing disputes.

US Justification for Continued Pressure

Secretary Bessent recently stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Iran’s reliance on digital assets and shadow banking networks demonstrates the effectiveness of US economic pressure, dubbed “Economic Fury.” He pledged continued efforts to increase economic pressure and dismantle illicit financial networks used by the Iranian regime. According to Bessent, Treasury will pursue these measures regardless of whether transactions are conducted in dollars, rials, or cryptocurrency.

Baqaei’s remarks underscore Iran's defiance of international sanctions and its assertion that it will not be economically subdued. The US continues to maintain a firm stance on economic pressure as a means of influencing Iranian policy.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.