Iran: New U.S. sanctions "psychological war"

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has dismissed the new U.S. sanctions on Tehran, with the Foreign Ministry spokesman saying Tuesday they are part of a "psychological war" meant to sow discontent among Iranians and insisting the measures would not halt the country's nuclear program.

Washington ordered the new penalties on Monday, giving U.S. banks additional powers to freeze assets linked to the Iranian government and close loopholes that officials say Iran has used to move money despite earlier restrictions imposed by the U.S. and Europe.

The United States and its allies suspect Iran's nuclear activities are geared toward producing an atomic weapon. Iran denies the charge, insisting its controversial uranium enrichment program is only for peaceful purposes, such as power production.

Ramin Mehmanparast, the foreign ministry spokesman, said Iran's central bank has no financial transactions with the United States and would not be affected by the measures.

U.S. slaps new sanctions on Iran amid tensions

He told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday that the penalties are just "propaganda."

"Many of these (U.S.) activities are in the sphere of psychological war and propaganda, and they cannot affect our work," he said.

"When they impose sanctions on our central bank even though we have no transactions with them, it shows ... they think they are able to put pressure on our people. create concerns and social discontent," he added.

The new, stricter sanctions, authorized in legislation that President Barack Obama signed in December, will be enforced under an order he signed Sunday. The measures target Iran's Central Bank and its other financial institutions, intended to complicate the country's ability to conduct international commerce.

The U.S. and Europe want to deprive Iran of the oil income it needs to run its government and pay for the nuclear program. But many experts believe Iran will be able to find other buyers outside Europe.

Mehmanparast insisted the penalties will have no effect and would not halt Iran's nuclear program.

"When you apply the highest level of your power to impose sanctions on a nation and that nation continues on its path decisively, it proves you do not have enough power to halt it," he said, addressing the U.S.

"These measures will not have enough impact on Iran," Mehmanparast said. "These miscalculations will bear no fruit for the U.S. and Western countries."

[fedup12]

Same kind of things were going on in the lead up to the Iraq war.

If we fall for this **** again we are the stupidest country on the face of the earth.

Time for someone else to step up. If Israel wants Iran they can have them.

Dont pull us into their ****.

[honest_pols]

IRAN'S AYATOLLAS ARE LEADING THE IRANIAN PEOPLE DOWN A VERY DANGEROUS PATH

We, who comprise the Western World Alliance against fascism, must do all in our power to eliminate the current Iranian regime's Nuclear Program.

The Ayatollas and other leaders who currently rule Iran, are not working in the good interests of the world and its many different peoples.

These religious fanatics are not only intolerant of other people who are non-Moslem, but they also have full intentions to cause a 'world-ending' Nuclear Conflagration, after which the Islamic Messiah "... will arrive to impose strict Islamic Law onto the entire world."

Woe is to our planet and to all of its life forms, if Iran's Nuclear Program is not stopped ...
...and without any further delay!

[fedup12]

So honest.... Is this Americas duty?

Im kind of thinking maybe we have taken the lead on too much of this kind of crap. Now we have 15 trillion debt to show for it.

[eiddam]

I think one fprgets it was Israel who invaded and decided to conquer the land of the Palestinian like the Europeans did to this land. Isreal has drawn the United States into promoting war by having our weapons sent and our tax money to use against surounding country useing false flags. Isreal and the Bush admination threatened Iran and tried to create a conflict to start a war. Obama is doing the same to please Israel Israel wants to conquer Lebanon, Syria and other around them and fear Iran will interfere, the reason they demand the US to help. Do research and find Israel has more control over our government then one knows.

[venusvegasvada]

Iranian Mullahs: Your living in denial.

[addict42]

Sadly the AIPAC controls so much of Cogress and has the president in it's grips too no matter if he is a Democrat or a Republican. Iran is NOT Iraq and not only is its military bigger and stronger it will retalite against Isreal from all sides drawing the always-war-hungry U.S. into its battle. I say let Isreal fend for itself and America be prepared for $9 a gallon gas if Isreal begins battle.

[Jim1900]

We will be drawn into the war in any case, if Iran wants to attack us. It would be smart of them not to.

[FactNotRhetoric]

"Saudi Puppet Obama" will sacrifice more American lives, and $Trillions more American Dollars to turn both Iran and Syria over to the genocidal, Saudi Dictators.

"Puppet Obama" leaves Saudi authored, Sharia Law in the constitutions of these countries, turning democracies into Saudi Dictatorships. "Puppet Obama" has left Sharia law in the constitutions of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and Uganda. "Saudi Puppet Obama" went out of his way to get Saudi authored Sharia Law added into the Kenya constitution.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH "PUPPET OBAMA" - STOP SACRIFICING AMERICAN LIVES AND $TRILLIONS OF US DOLLARS JUST TO GIVE MORE COUNTRIES TO THE BLOODY, GENOCIDAL SAUDIS

The Saudi Dictators have DECLARED WAR ON THE UNITED STATES. The Saudis have declared WAR ON ANY COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT HAVE SAUDI SHARIA LAW IN THEIR CONSTITUTIONS. The Saudis have authored Sharia Law to make every citizen enemy combatants to the US. If a citizen objects to warring with the US, the Saudis publicly cut off their heads with a sword in the public square.

Saudi authored Sharia Law and Saudi Authored Sharia Compliant Finances were both authored to overthrow democracies and both declare WAR ON ANY DEMOCRACY. Both make it legal to kill, hurt maim or bankrupt any American anywhere in the world.

Flying Jets into the World Trade center, hacking US Government Computers, killing innocent American Citizens, hacking the FBI, hacking US police departments, and funding Occupy Riots are all legal under Saudi authored Sharia Compliant Finance and Saudi authored Sharia Law.

[JasperBloodsworth]

America really could learn what it means to be empathetic. We did good by saving those Iranian ships. But in regards to actions like this, we seem to be showing the pessimistic and destructive side of ourselves, instead of showing where our hearts really are. If they are for peace, then show peace. But we seem to be bent on destruction, and over zealous self-righteousness. Gotta show both sides of the spectrum to teach, but at the same time oppression inflicts the insanity of the world.

[Irby32]

We are sickos! Leave Iran alone already. They are a sovereign nation just like us and are free to have nuclear energy and weapons.

[joesapper]

is this an obama way of enforcing resolve, psychological warfare, in other words , we will just wish it away. come on now lets all concentrate real hard and those nukes will go away. wow is pres obama for real?

[fedup12]

Cant have a psychological war with an unarmed person.