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Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, here on May 8, 2019 in Moscow. REUTERS / Evgenia Novozhenina

The United States announced on Wednesday (July 31st) that it has decided to impose sanctions on Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, described as the " face of the regime ."

Mohammad Javad Zarif " is the face of the regime spreading propaganda and disinformation campaigns abroad in favor of Tehran's nuclear program, its ballistic missiles and its terrorist networks ," said a senior US administration official having requested anonymity. " It has been far too long for him to pretend to be a reasonable and credible representative of Iran. Today, President Trump has decided that is enough, "he added.

In a statement, the Treasury said the sanctions against the Iranian Foreign Minister provide for the freezing of all assets he owns in the United States and prohibit any dealings with him.

Treasury designates Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif for the Supreme Leader of Iran https://t.co/FEaxRqmpNQ

Treasury Department (@USTreasury) July 31, 2019

Washington will also seek to prevent his travels abroad, but not his participation in UN activities in New York, said the White House.

" This decision represents a new effort to deprive the Iranian regime of resources for terrorism and oppression of the Iranian people ," commented US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo. " Mr. Zarif, who is a senior official of the regime, which he is apologizing, has been for years now complicit in these harmful activities ," he added.

Recently, President @realDonaldTrump sanctioned Iran's Supreme Leader, who enriched himself at the expense of the Iranian people. Today, the US designated his chief apologist @JZarif. He's just complicit in the regime's outlaw behavior as the rest of the khamenei_ir's mafia. pic.twitter.com/XhDdqR6rik

Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 31, 2019

Mohammed Javad Zarif replied on Twitter that he had no interest outside Iran and that these sanctions had no consequences for him or his family members. " The reason the US is attacking me is because I'm Iran's first spokesman around the world, " he said.

The US 'reason for designating me is that I am Iran's "primary spokesperson around the world"
Is the truth really that painful?
It has no effect on me or my family.
Thank you for considering such a huge threat to your agenda.

Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 31, 2019

These new sanctions taken by Washington add to all those applied against Tehran for more than a year and the American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Donald Trump hopes to suffocate the economy of the Islamic Republic to force its leaders to negotiate another agreement. This policy led to an escalation of tensions between the two countries, with Tehran announcing that it would gradually withdraw from its obligations under the agreement.

(With agencies)