Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as a new US effort to increase economic pressure and enforce sanctions against Tehran. In a statement, the ministry warned that participating in implementation of the sanctions would amount to helping impose one country’s “illegal will” on independent states. No date or specific location for the statement was provided in the source.

Tehran said the US sanctions violate the UN Charter and characterized Washington’s declared economic campaign as a continuation of military conflict it says the United States and Israel have waged against Iran. Iran described the economic pressure as condemnable “state terrorism” and an act rising to the level of crimes against humanity. It warned that sanctions could place the health and livelihoods of millions at serious risk.

The ministry also questioned the role of the United Nations and its member states, alleging they had failed to take adequate action over what Iran called violations of international law by the United States and Israel. It said that failure had encouraged further violations. Iran said it remains determined to use all necessary means to defend the country against coordinated military and economic pressure from the United States and Israel.