In a post on social media on Friday, Hemmati pointed the latest news on Washington’s sanctions against Tehran and dismissed as untrue a recent claim by US Special Representative on Iran Brian Hook that the Islamic Republic’s oil exports have reduced to 120,000 barrels per day due to the sanctions.
The top banking official further emphasized that the new US sanctions are not something new or effective.
Iran’s economy is progressing and its oil and non-oil exports are increasing despite sanctions, Hemmati said.
According to media reports, the US said on Thursday it had imposed sanctions on the Iranian construction sector and trade in four materials used in its military or nuclear programs.
The remarks come against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.