“Despite America’s pressure … and its nasty sanctions on our oil exports, we continue to sell oil and derivatives by using other means (energy market) … when even friendly countries (Japan, India…) have stopped purchasing our crude fearing America’s wrath,” IRNA quoted Eshaq Jahangiri as saying.

Animosity between Iran and the United States reached crisis point last year after Donald Trump abandoned a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers under which Tehran accepted curbs to its nuclear program in return for lifting the sanctions.

“They failed to bring our oil exports to zero as planned,” Financial Tribune quoted Jahangiri as saying.

Speaking at an event in Kentucky on Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the economic sanctions had been effective, resulting in a decrease in Iran’s wealth and diminished its ability to trade with the rest of the world.

“In spite of what the world told President Trump – that American sanctions would not work – the world was wrong. The sanctions have been incredibly effective,” Pompeo claimed.

Washington has re-imposed sanctions aimed at halting all Iranian oil exports, and claims it wants Iran to return to the negotiating table to reach a wider deal. Other powers in the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement have not reinstated their sanctions and say they want the deal to survive.

Tehran has rejected talks with the belligerent Trump administration unless the US returns to the nuclear deal and lifts the sanctions that have targeted key sectors, namely oil, banking and shipping.