TEHRAN -- Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi on Sunday rejected U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s claim that Washington has dispatched envoys worldwide to pressure nations into severing economic ties with Iran, saying independent states determine their relations based on their own interests and not orders from the American treasury.
“Independent governments determine their relations with Iran based on their own interests and considerations, not orders from the U.S. Treasury,” Gharibabadi wrote on X. “The era of imposing demands through threats and sanctions is coming to an end.”
Gharibabadi’s remarks came after Bessent said on X Saturday that “under my direction, teams were sent all over the world to talk to countries and demand action against Iran,” claiming that “these efforts are yielding results.” 
The U.S. Treasury Secretary cited Turkey and Oman suspending flights by the private Iranian carrier Mahan Air, and the United Arab Emirates halting all Iranian airline flights, which officials in Tehran have dismissed. 
Bessent also highlighted new banking restrictions, including the UAE central bank blocking transactions by Bank Melli branches and Turkey revoking Bank Mellat’s license.
Bessent said the Treasury Department had held discussions with more than 50 countries as part of what he called an “economic D-Day” against Tehran, according to The Wall Street Journal.  
Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhussein Mohseni Ejei said Sunday that