US sanctions Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Wednesday sanctioned Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif for working on behalf of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who President Donald Trump designated in June.

The latest blacklisting marks an extremely rare action targeting a top diplomat, and is Trump's first under the order sanctioning Khamenei.

A senior administration official who spoke to reporters on condition she not be named said Zarif is being sanctioned because he implements Khamenei's "reckless agenda" and because he "is the regime's primary spokesperson around the world."