Iran has accused the United States of weaponizing sanctions to assert control over independent countries such as Iran and India, calling it a modern form of economic imperialism that violates international law and undermines national sovereignty.

In a strongly worded post on X, the Embassy of Iran in India said, “The United States continues to weaponize the economy and use sanctions as tools to dictate its will on independent nations such as Iran and India and impede their growth and development.”

The statement came just a day after US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports, along with a penalty for India’s continued oil trade with Russia, effective August 1.

Iran’s embassy also emphasized that opposing such coercive policies is essential for supporting a non-Western-led multilateral world order and empowering the Global South.

Separately, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned fresh US sanctions targeting its oil and energy sector, calling them a “malicious act” designed to cripple economic progress and harm its people.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei described the sanctions as “oppressive” and said they reflect Washington’s ongoing hostility toward the Iranian people. He added that the US’s unilateralism and reliance on coercive tactics threaten global legal norms, human rights, and interstate commerce.

“These sanctions are criminal in nature and amount to a violation of international law and human rights — a crime against humanity,” Baqaei said during a press briefing in Tehran.

Iran has long opposed the US strategy of using economic tools to influence geopolitical outcomes, and Thursday’s statements underscored growing resistance among Global South nations to Washington’s approach to international diplomacy.