Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lashed out at the Trump administration's vow to bring "maximum pressure" to bear against his country, tweeting that the move led to the "flouting" of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 on the Iranian nuclear agreement and hindered the provision of aid to communities suffering from flooding.
US policy has only led to "impeding aid efforts by #IranianRedCrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods" facing Iran, Zarif wrote. "Blocked equipment includes relief choppers: This isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM," the foreign minister added.
.@realDonaldTrump ‘s "maximum pressure"—flouting UNSC Res 2231 & ICJ ruling—is impeding aid efforts by #IranianRedCrescent to all communities devastated by unprecedented floods. Blocked equipment includes relief choppers: This isn't just economic warfare; it's economic TERRORISM. pic.twitter.com/EEKTMiXLEi
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) 1 апреля 2019 г.
Zarif's remarks come on the heels of new emergency alerts and travel advisories by Iranian authorities, with flooding said to have affected at least 23 of Iran's 31 provinces, according to a report by the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Zarif's sentiments were echoed by other social media users, who suggested US behaviour amid the flooding was "shameful."
The video footages of flooding are really shocking. It is a shame on the us for using instruments of economic pressure against the people of Iran at this critical juncture when many people are in trouble in the flood affected areas. May God bless iran!
— Simesorkh (@simesorkh) 1 апреля 2019 г.
Trump and his clique do not understand the meaning of humanity! He & Netanyahu enjoy of the people misery in Iran.
— Ali Omidi (@AliOmidi2014) 1 апреля 2019 г.
Others attacked Trump on Twitter after the president tweeted that his administration has "succeeded in dramatically raising the costs to Iran for its sinister behaviour," with one user saying only a "morally weak" person could "celebrate that life is made more difficult for over 80 million people due to illegal and politically motivated sanctions."
While there are over 42 people dead and great portion of Iran under water due to floods, only a morally weak would celebrate that life is made difficult for over 80 million people, due to illegal and politically motivated sanctions.
— Shawn Ayromloo (@ShawnAyromloo) 1 апреля 2019 г.
Relations collapsed to new lows in May 2018, however, after President Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the nuclear deal and slapped Iran with several rounds of increasingly severe sanctions.
