In a post on his X account on Friday evening, Araqchi recalled successive US campaigns against Iran, from what Washington once called the “most crippling sanctions in history” to its “maximum pressure” policy and more recent demands for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” arguing that all have failed.
“14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed.
8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed.
5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed.
Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail.
We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” Araqchi wrote.
The Iranian foreign minister also attached a screenshot of a post by former US President Barack Obama dated October 12, 2012, in which Obama quoted then-Vice President Joe Biden as describing the sanctions imposed on Iran as “the most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions.”
The Iranian foreign minister’s remarks came in response to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who claimed on Thursday that Washington would impose its most severe sanctions yet on Iran in an effort to cripple the country’s economy, restrict its foreign trade and pressure its leaders to end the war without a new expansion of US military operations.
Bessent said details of the measures would be announced Monday, describing them as the “toughest sanctions in history.”