The “cruel” sanctions imposed by the US against Iran have failed in the face of country’s capabilities in the tourism industry, Mounesan said, addressing the 40th Plenary Session of the Affiliate Members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the western city of Hamedan on Monday.
The American sanctions have not dampened foreign tourists’ enthusiasm for visiting Iran, the official said.
The number of foreign tourists has not decreased but rather increased because the Iranian people are peace-loving and hospitable, he added.
The remarks came as tensions between Iran and the US have escalated since US President Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in May and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Following the US exit from the nuclear deal, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord.
Trump on August 6 signed an executive order re-imposing many sanctions on Iran, three months after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal.
He said the US policy is to levy “maximum economic pressure” on the country.
The second batch of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic took effect on November 4.