Iran's maximum resilience will neutralize US maximum pressure: Diplomat

The spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry has played down the United States' strategy of exerting maximum pressure on Tehran, saying Washington should speak with the Iranian nation respectfully.

Abbas Mousavi took to Twitter on Saturday to respond to an earlier tweet by US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Washington’s intention to increase maximum pressure on Iran.

"Your maximum pressure is neutralized by our maximum resilience, discretion and hope," the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

He added that Iran would pass all these difficult stages "with honor" as it did in the past four decades, advising American authorities to "learn to speak respectfully with the Iranian nation and return to your commitments."

In her Friday tweet, Ortagus said the US is increasing maximum pressure on Iran by targeting its construction sector, which she claimed is controlled by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

She added that anyone who sells, supplies, or transfers covered materials to Iran’s construction sector will face mandatory sanctions.

The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iran's construction sector despite Washington's announcement a week ago that it had created a new mechanism to facilitate "permissible trade" with Tehran.

PressTV-US imposes new sanctions, targeting Iran construction

The US has imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting the construction sector, despite announcing a week ago that Washington had created a new mechanism for "permissible trade" with Tehran.

The US State Department issued a fact sheet, singling out the sale of software used for industrial purposes, raw and semi-finished metals, graphite and coal used in Iran's construction sector as targets for the new sanctions.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday slammed the United States for imposing fresh sanctions against Tehran, saying the new restrictions show Washington's "maximum failure" in what it calls maximum pressure policy regarding the Islamic Republic.

PressTV-‘US bans on Iran maximum failure of maximum pressure’

Zarif says new US sanctions show Washington's maximum failure in the maximum pressure strategy.

"Subjecting construction workers to #EconomicTerrorism only manifests maximum failure of 'maximum pressure'," Zarif said in a post on his official Twitter account.

Read more:

• Iran blasts US 'economic terrorism' after new sanctions
• Ayatollah Khamenei: No talks with US; maximum pressure campaign futile
• Abandon illusion that Iran can be defeated by pressure: Zarif to US
• US failed in anti-Iran pressure policy, found itself stuck: Analyst

Iran resolute on maintaining stability, security in Persian Gulf

In separate remarks on Saturday, the Iranian spokesperson addressed the Islamic Republic’s keenness to safeguard the security of the Persian Gulf region.

He said the full text of Iran’s initiative for regional security, known as Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), has been sent to leaders of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iraq.

The initiative “indicates the determination of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the significance it attaches to regional countries in maintaining stability and security of the Persian Gulf region," Mousavi added.

In his letter, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on the GCC states to make collective efforts to implement HOPE, he said.

He noted that the Iranian foreign minister would also send a letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in this regard in the near future.

In an address to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on September 25, Rouhani invited all countries that are affected by developments in the Persian Gulf to join the country’s initiative for the security of the strategic region.

PressTV-Iran to US: Leave job of ensuring ME security to neighbors

Iran says the US is not welcome in the region and must leave it as neighbors not outsiders can themselves ensure the security of the Persian Gulf.

He said that the “Coalition of HOPE” aims to promote peace, stability, progress and prosperity of littoral states and help achieve mutual understanding and establish peaceful and friendly relations among them.

Read more:

• US attempts to exclude Iran from any regional arrangement futile: FM Zarif
• Either all countries in Persian Gulf will benefit from security or suffer its absence: Zarif
• Iran friend of regional states, ready for security cooperation: Zangeneh
• Iran’s Hormuz initiative guarantees regional security: Iran’s Zarif

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