US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that the United States will continue to impose sanctions on Iran, while Iranian President Hassan Rowhani expressed optimism about the outcome of negotiations with European countries.

"The sanctions imposed on Iran are very effective and effective and will contribute to preventing them from developing their nuclear program," Pompeo said in a speech in the Thai capital Bangkok during a meeting between Southeast Asian countries and world powers.

The US Secretary of State warned that any company or state that ignores sanctions and deals with Iran will be subject to harsh sanctions.

European concern
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry expressed its concern over the decision of the United States to put Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif in the range of sanctions.

France and its European partners signatories to the agreement (Germany and Britain) do not support this decision, she said in a statement Thursday, stressing that all diplomatic channels should remain open, especially in the current tense context.

The statement said that the three European countries in regular contact with the Iranian Foreign Minister, in order to reduce the tension and the return of Iran to comply fully with its obligations in the Vienna agreement.

The statement, in turn, expressed satisfaction with Washington's decision to extend its exemption from sanctions for civil nuclear energy projects with Iran.

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EU foreign policy spokesman Carlos Ruiz de Gurdiguela also expressed regret over Washington's decision to impose sanctions against Zarif.

"For our part, we will continue to work with Mr. Zarif as the most prominent Iranian diplomat, given the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels," he said.

The rare decision by the United States on Wednesday to place a senior foreign diplomat on the sanctions list came after an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump last month included sanctions against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The United States justified its latest decision by saying that Zarif was acting on behalf of the Supreme Leader.

Iranian optimism
In Iran, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said negotiations with European countries could reach positive results in the coming weeks.

In his speech in the northwestern city of Tabriz, Rowhani said his country would implement the third step of reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement if European countries did not present acceptable and balanced proposals.

The Iranian president stressed that Tehran will continue its negotiations with the European parties, and that the government runs the country on the basis of not achieving any result in the negotiations, stressing that the Iranian people are able to defend the economy of his country.