Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says the recent move by the US Senate to approve fresh anti-Iran sanctions cannot be used by Trump’s administration to evade its responsibilities as per the nuclear deal.

“Considering the US Senate’s history of hostility and enmity towards the Iranian nation, its recent vote for fresh anti-Tehran sanctions was not unpredictable,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, referring to the move as a continuation of US natural hostilities towards the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“Based on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is an international document, the US government should fulfil its commitments in full and with good will,” Qassemi said.

“The internal regulations of countries are not criterion for action in this regard, and governments cannot resort to such regulations for evading their legal commitments,” he went on to say.

He further pointed to the Islamic Republic’s compliance with its JCPOA commitments, which has been repeatedly confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed that all parties to the nuclear deal are obliged to fulfil their commitments in full.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is closely watching and investigating the articles and text of the sanctions law, its ratification in the US House of Representatives, and its possible signing into law by the US President, Qassemi said.

The Iranian committee tasked with monitoring the JCPOA implementation will adopt appropriate measures to serve the country’s national interests.

He also rejected the ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘illegal’ allegations about Iran’s military forces and missile capabilities raised in the law, and said the Iranian armed forces will bravely defend their country’s security and interests regardless of such moves.”I once again emphasize that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile defence plans are totally legitimate, and are not even against the UNSC Resolution 2231,” he added.

“Nothing can deprive the Islamic Republic of Iran of its legitimate right to defend itself,” Qassemi stressed.

The US Senate on Thursday voted almost unanimously to impose new sanctions against Iran and Russia. The 100-member Senate backed the measure by a margin of 98-2.

The bill includes new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program and “continued support for terrorism.”

The sanctions come following two sets of sanctions imposed in February and May by the US Treasury Department over Iran’s missile program.