Iran says US 'addicted to sanctions', as Washington sanctions Turkey

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif on Tuesday claimed the US had an "addiction" to sanctions, condemning Washington's recent sanctions regime against Turkey.

In a tweet, Zarif said the US sanctions on Turkey - imposed on Monday over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system - showed Washington's "contempt for international law".

"US addiction to sanctions and contempt for international law at full display again. We strongly condemn recent US sanctions against Turkey and stand with its people and government," the Iranian official said.

Despite being regional rivals in proxy wars, Iran and Turkey have increased economic cooperation over the past decade.

The two countries recently engaged in a public spat surrounding Turkey's support for Azerbaijan in its victorious war over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region with Armenia.

Iran summoned Ankara's ambassador to Tehran to complain about remarks made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku. Authorities claimed the comments were "interventionist and unacceptable".

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Turkey responded by summoning Iran's ambassador to Ankara to protest claims it said were "baseless".

President Donald Trump's administration announced it will refuse visas for the head of Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industries, Ismail Demir, and ban all export licenses to the government body.

During his term, incumbent President Trump has rigorously sanctioned Iran under its "maximum pressure" foreign policy campaign.

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