Speaker: US Practicing Economic Terrorism against Iran

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said that the US sanctions are aimed at pressuring the people in Iran rather than the government, and Washington is practicing economic terrorism against the country.

"The US goal is not pressuring the Iranian government but it wants to pressure Iranian patients and the Iranian nation. Actually the US is at present playing the role of an economic terrorist," Larijani said in an interview with the Arabic-language al-Jazeera news channel on Monday.

He, meantime, underlined that similar to the US-made ISIL terrorist group's failure, Washington's economic terrorism will also collapse after some time.

"Iran is a large country and enjoys various possibilities and a large number of specialized human resources. Iran is not a country which succumbs to such measures," Larijani said.

The term "economic terrorism" was also earlier used by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promoted fake news with regard to helping Iranian flood-stricken people.

On Tuesday night, Zarif in a message slammed Pompeo for his untrue statement that Washington is seeking to help the flood-hit people of Iran.

"Real news as @ICRC President noted, Iranian Red Crescent cannot receive any funds due to illegal US sanctions. US should own up to its ECONOMIC TERRORISM," Zarif wrote on his Twitter page.

The Iranian foreign minister categorically dismissed Pompeo's claims that the US is sympathizing with the flood-hit Iranians, and said that Washington should be accountable to its economic terrorism.

Unprecedented heavy rains caused floods in various parts of Iran over the past two weeks. Scores of people were killed and injured and a large number were displaced across Iran.

"FAKE NEWS: @SecPompeo claim that US 'ready to assist @ifrc, which would direct money through Iranian Red Crescent for relief," Zarif added.

Also earlier last Tuesday, Zarif blasted US President Donald Trump for his hostile attitude towards the Islamic Republic, and said that the new round of unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran is an act of economic terrorism.

"@realDonaldTrump's maximum pressure—flouting UNSC Res 2231 & ICJ ruling—is impeding aid efforts by IranianRedCrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods. Blocked equipment includes relief choppers," Zarif wrote on his Twitter page.