Foreign minister: US focused on ‘psychological war’ against Iran and its trading partners

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday that the U.S. is waging a “psychological war” against his nation and its trading partners.

“[America’s] focus is on a psychological war against Iran and its business partners,” Zarif said, according to the Tasnim new agency, Reuters reports.

Zarif said Sunday that Iran is dealing with a “unique, complicated and sensitive” situation, involving both external and internal security threats, according to the news service.

The Trump administration earlier this month reimposed sanctions that had been lifted as part of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal. It is expected to issue a second set of sanctions that will hit Iran’s oil industry in November.

President Trump at the time called the sanctions “the most biting … ever.”

{mosads}Iran’s currency has fallen sharply since the U.S. sanctions were reimposed, wreaking havoc on the country’s economy.

Iran’s parliament also ousted its minister of economic affairs and finance on Sunday, following a drastic drop in the country’s currency.

Reuters reports that protests tied to Iran’s worsening economy, which began in late December and have continued since, have resulted in 25 deaths so far.

–This report was updated at 1:25 p.m.