Tehran, Apr 17 (V7N) – Iran has strongly condemned recent threats by the United States to intensify economic pressure, labeling such measures as “economic terrorism” and crimes against humanity.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei made the remarks in a post on social media platform X on Thursday night (April 16), according to Iran’s state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.

In his statement, Baghaei criticized what he described as the deliberate infliction of suffering on ordinary people through economic measures. “The self-righteous way in which the policy of systematically inflicting pain and suffering on innocent people is being presented is extremely despicable,” he said, adding that such actions reflect an “inhumane mentality.”

He further alleged that the US approach amounts to state-sponsored extortion, describing it as “economic terrorism” that could qualify as crimes against humanity and, in its broader impact, even genocide.

Baghaei’s remarks came in response to a recent report by the Associated Press, which stated that Washington is planning to increase economic pressure on Tehran. According to the report, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the move as the “financial equivalent of bombing Iran.”

The escalating rhetoric highlights growing tensions between Tehran and Washington, with both sides continuing to exchange strong statements over economic sanctions and regional policies.

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