TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned U.S. fresh sanctions on a number of Iranian banks, Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attends a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart following their talks in Moscow on September 24, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, the United States wants to "blow up our remaining channels to pay for food and medicine," Zarif said in response to U.S. announcement of sanctions on 18 Iranian banks on Thursday.

"Iranians will survive this latest of cruelties. But conspiring to starve a population is a crime against humanity," he was quoted as saying.