Iran on Tuesday denounced fresh sanctions imposed by the United States on its officials and entities over alleged human rights abuses.
The US "fails to understand that 'maximum pressure' and a diplomatic breakthrough are mutually exclusive,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement on Twitter.
"Doubling down on sanctions won't create leverage -- and is anything but seriousness and goodwill," Khatibzadeh said, taking strong umbrage to the latest round of sanctions.
He said the U.S. "cannot stop" imposing sanctions on Iran "even amid Vienna talks."
The sanctions come days after the seventh round of talks between Iran and world powers in Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal was adjourned without any breakthrough.
