The U.S. designated “four Iranian intelligence operatives who targeted a U.S. citizen in the United States and Iranian dissidents in other countries as part of a wide-ranging campaign to silence critics of the Iranian government”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that “the U.S. remains aware of ongoing Iranian interest in targeting other American citizens, including current and former U.S. officials”, adding: “We will not tolerate any attacks on U.S. citizens, here or abroad”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “current U.S. officials are taking the failed path of the previous administration while Washington needs to know that there is no way but to give up its sanctions addiction and to use respectful behavior and language towards Tehran”.