Iran says U.S. sanctions on space agency "ineffective"

TEHRAN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday that recent U.S. sanctions against the Iranian Space Agency are ineffective, Tasnim news agency reported.

"The Americans are addicted to sanctions," said Zarif, who is on an official visit to Bangladesh.

"These U.S. sanctions have no effect and the world is also beginning to ridicule the United States," he said.

On Tuesday, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced sanctions against the Iranian Space Agency.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the sanctions would target both the space agency and two of its research institutions.