The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against the manager of a Dubai branch of Iran's Bank Melli and a Hong Kong-based company, saying both had helped designated Iranian individuals and entities gain access to the international financial system. The department also proposed revoking correspondent banking privileges for Banque Misr UAE's access to U.S. financial institutions.
Iran's foreign ministry said the same day that the United States was undertaking "a new wave of economic terrorism against Iran." The ministry said the sanctions demonstrated "the criminal intent of its planners and implementers to inflict pain and suffering on the Iranian people and deprive Iranian citizens of their fundamental human rights."
The Iranian statement characterized the measures as constituting an international crime and a crime against humanity.
