Tehran, August 2 (RHC)-- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has condemned imposition of sanctions on the country’s top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, as a “ridiculous” and “illegal” measure, which is in line with Washington's policy of mounting maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Issuing a statement on Thursday, the IRGC condemned the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Zarif, saying: “By imposing sanctions on the respectable foreign minister [of Iran], Americans once again demonstrated their anger at the spread of the Islamic Revolution’s inspiring and anti-arrogance discourse, and unveiled their mischief and animosity toward the dignified Iranian establishment and nation.”

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Zarif earlier this week because he “acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”  The U.S. Treasury Department also said in its statement that Zarif is Iran's "primary spokesperson around the world," and that the ban "is sending a clear message that Iran's "recent behavior is completely unacceptable.”

The measure is also meant to counter “a diplomacy that is based on resistance and aims to give voice to the position of a nation that has chosen to tread down the path of dignity and independence and stand up to bullies while refusing to give in to modern colonialist rule.”

The IRGC suggested that maybe Washington itself once used to consider issuing such sanctions to be beneath a country like it, which lays claim to being a superpower, but has now resorted to sanctions in a bid to make up to some degree for its desperation, distress, and weakness.

Such actions targeting the Islamic Republic, however, do not change the fact that the country has brought about “an end to the era of Americans’ stance as a superpower and their adventurism in the region, and has led them and their regional and extra-regional lackeys to ignominious frustration.”

President Rouhani says a ‘childish’ decision to sanction Foreign Minister Zarif shows the U.S. is ‘afraid of’ the top Iranian diplomat’s logic and interviews.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the decision in a statement, describing it as a “clear sign” of U.S. desperation.   The move lays bare Washington’s “fear and weakness” in the face of Iran’s intelligent and logic-based diplomacy, the ministry noted.

The Iranian Ministry said that the sanctions will have no impact on endeavors of either the Iranian Foreign Ministry or Zarif as its highest-ranking authority to prove the rightfulness of the Iranian nation, defend the country's national interests, and confront the U.S. “economic terrorism."

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, meanwhile, called Zarif the stalwart communicator of Iran’s diplomacy and the Islamic Republic’s powerful representative on all international arenas.

Sanctioning Zarif, he added in a post on his Instagram page, showed that the U.S. is “incapable of engaging with the brave and ardent sons of this hearth and home” in political and diplomatic arenas.

The European Union also vowed to continue working with the Iranian foreign minister despite the US decision.  "We regret this decision," said Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela, a spokesman for EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini.

"From our side, we will continue to work with Mr. Zarif as Iran's most senior diplomat and in view of the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels," Martin said.