The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, announced on Monday that he plans to sue the United States administration for imposing travel and financial bans against him.
Speaking to the semiofficial Iranian Fars news agency, Firouzabadi pointed to his activities in scientific and industrial fields and his works to treat victims of chemical weapons, and noted, “Now I want to lodge a complaint against the U.S. Department of Treasury because they are against humanitarian services and efforts for Iran's national security and independence and consider it as a criminal act.”
He added, “The U.S. should be accountable to the world public opinion for its irrational, unjustified and undocumented move.”
The commander further said that imposing various bans against Iranian officials signifies the arrogant power's hatred and hostility towards Islamic thought and its growth among the world nations.
In December of 2011, the United States imposed travel and financial sanctions against two senior Iranian military officials for human rights abuses, Fars noted.
In addition to Firouzabadi, sanctions were imposed against the Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force, Abdollah Araqi.
Russia recently harshly criticized new U.S. sanctions against Iran, calling them “overt blackmail” and a "crude contradiction of international law" and warning that relations between Washington and Moscow could significantly sour if Russian companies are affected.
The criticism came after President Barack Obama signed into law new sanctions on Iran’s energy, shipping and financial industries that would harm foreign companies that mine uranium with Iran or help the regime export oil by providing tankers, insurance or banking services.