'Maximum pressure' on Iran became 'maximum isolation' of US: Rouhani

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran had thrown the US into "maximum isolation", after major powers dismissed US declarations that UN sanctions on Iran were back in force.

"America's maximum pressure against Iran, in its political and legal aspects, has turned into America's maximum isolation," Rouhani said during a televised cabinet meeting.

The Trump administration said the sanctions had been re-activated under the "snapback" mechanism in a landmark 2015 nuclear treaty – despite Washington having withdrawn from the deal.

As other signatories cast doubt on the move having any legal effect, Washington threatened to "impose consequences" on states failing to comply.

In mid-August, the US suffered a resounding defeat at the Security Council when it tried to extend the embargo on conventional weapons being sent to Tehran, which was due to expire in October.

Pompeo responded with an unusually vehement attack on Britain, France and Germany, accusing them of "siding with Iran's ayatollahs" before announcing the snapback.

Read also: Unravelling of the Iran nuclear deal

The Trump administration, however, is acting as if the international sanctions are in place, while the rest of the international community acts as if nothing has changed.

Washington is hammering home that the arms embargo has been extended "indefinitely" and that many activities related to Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs are now subject to international sanctions.