Zarif raps US bans as Iran marks anniversary of Sardasht chemical attack

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lashed out at the US for imposing “inhumane” sanctions that have hampered access to vital medical aid by Iranian chemical attack victims.

Zarif made the remarks in a message released on Friday at a ceremony to mark the 32nd anniversary of Saddam’s bombing of Sardasht in West Azarbaijan province of Iran in 1987.

In the message, Zarif strongly criticized Washington’s unilateral sanctions, saying the US economic terrorism is against international humanitarian law.

He also referred to the US arsenal of undestroyed chemical weapons, and accused it of dodging its obligations under existing conventions.

During the Iraq-Iran war, Saddam waged several chemical attacks on Iran’s cities, leaving behind many victims who are still suffering after decades.

Iraq’s dictator, disappointed from winning the war against Iran, resorted to chemical attacks on Iranian civilians especially in the two cities of Sardasht and Sumar.

The attack on Sardasht killed over 1,000 civilians and injured another 8,000, leaving some of them permanently disabled.

SS