FM: US sanctions target sunken Iranian ship, closed bank

The sanctions recently re-imposed by the US on Iran have, among other things, targeted a sunken Iranian tanker and a closed bank in a gaffe that has drawn a reaction from Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Press TV reports.

“The US designated a bank that was closed six years ago, and a ship that sank last year in a widely televised saga,” Zarif tweeted on Monday.

The move took place as part of “a desperate PSYOP (psychological operation) to amplify the list of sanctioned Iranian entities—unintentionally also proving it is targeting ordinary Iranians indiscriminately,” he explained.

Sanchi, the oil tanker on the list of sanctioned entities, collided with a wheat-carrying Chinese vessel off China’s shores in January, and drowned after days of burning on the surface. All the 32 people aboard the ill-fated ship lost their lives in the tragedy, which attracted much media attention worldwide.

Iran’s Tat Bank, which has likewise found its way to the list, was closed back in 2012.

In a desperate PSYOP to amplify the list of sanctioned Iranian entities—unintentionally also proving it is #TargetingOrdinaryIranians indiscriminately—the U.S. designated a bank that was closed 6 years ago, and a ship that sank last year in a widely televised saga. #USisIsolated

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) November 5, 2018