During his speech, he condemned the U.S. for reducing Iranian oil exports as part of a sanctions package following it's pullout from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in May 2018.

Moreover, Zarif called on the international body "to deny the United States any perceived benefit from its unlawful unilateralism."

"The United States is also punishing those who seek to fulfill their multilateral obligations under Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls for normalization of economic relations with Iran," Zarif said while speaking at the U.N.

In July 2019, President Donald Trump signed a sanctions package targeting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and anyone who worked with him and his office.