Rouhani: 'childish' of U.S. to sanction Iran foreign minister

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the United States of "childish behavior" and acting out of fear after Washington imposed sanctions on Iran’s foreign minister amid rising tensions between the two countries

"They (Americans) are resorting to childish behavior... They were claiming every day 'We want to talk, with no preconditions' ...and then they sanction the foreign minister," Rouhani said in remarks carried live on state television.

"A country which believes it’s powerful and a world superpower is afraid of our foreign minister’s interviews," Reuters cited Rouhani as saying.

"When Dr Zarif gives an interview in New York, ... they (Americans) say Iran’s foreign minister is misleading our public opinion," the Iranian president said. "What happened to your claims of liberty, freedom of expression and democracy?"

"The pillars of the White House are made to tremble by the words and the logic of a knowledgeable and self-sacrificing man and diplomat," he stressed.

Yesterday, the United States imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, blocking any property or interests he has in the United States.