Iran condemns U.S. sanctions on Syria

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the new U.S. sanctions against Syria and said that Iran will maintain its economic ties with the Arab state.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement that the imposition of new U.S. sanctions against Syria is a "violation of the international law and humanitarian principles."

"As it has already been announced, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not give any credence to such cruel and unilateral sanctions ... and considers them as economic terrorism against the Syrians, which also continues to destabilize Syria," Mousavi said.

"We will continue economic cooperation with the resisting nation and government of Syria like before, and will strengthen our economic relations with Syria in spite of the sanctions," he stressed.

The United States on Wednesday announced massive sanctions against Syria, in an effort to further deprive the revenue of the Syrian government.

The latest sanctions, provisioned by the Caesar Act, involve 39 individuals and entities including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in a statement that "anyone doing business with the Assad regime, no matter where in the world they are, is potentially exposed to travel restrictions and financial sanctions."