"We certainly condemn the US administration's move to impose sanctions against the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is unprecedented pressure, which should not be a part of modern international relations," Ryabkov said at a briefing.
The Treasury said on 31 July that all assets that Zarif might have in the United States would be blocked, threatening people and entities who engaged in transactions with the diplomat with penalties. Zarif denied having any property interests outside of Iran and voiced the belief that the United States had sanctioned him because of considering him a threat.
Earlier on Monday, Javad Zarif commented on the US plans to form a maritime coalition in the Gulf following the seizure of a British tanker in the region in July. He said that the US had failed to have an allied coalition in the Persian Gulf because 'its friends are too ashamed of being in a coalition with them'.
The relations between the US and Iran have remained tense following Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposing of economic sanctions against the country. Tehran responded by saying that it would suspend some of its obligations under the deal.