Washington, October 8 (RHC)-- The Trump administration Thursday blacklisted 18 Iranian banks that remain unsanctioned under its economy-wide pressure campaign.

The hostile action, weeks before the November 3 U.S. presidential election, aims to sever the few financial connections Tehran still has with the financial world by effectively blacklisting the entire sector.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the action showed the administration’s commitment to blocking Iran’s access to U.S. dollars.

“Our sanctions programs will continue until Iran stops its support of terrorist activities and ends its nuclear program,” he said in a statement.

Iran Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif condemned the sanctions.

“Amid Covid19 pandemic, U.S. regime wants to blow up our remaining channels to pay for food & medicine, Culprits & enablers—who block our money—WILL face justice,” he wrote on Twitter.

Javad Zarif added that Iranians would survive this latest cruelty. But conspiring to starve a population is a crime against humanity.