In a tweet on Monday evening, Mr. Zangeneh said the move was a passive reaction to Washington’s failed policy of bringing Iran’s oil exports to zero.

“Imposition of sanctions on me and my colleagues is a passive reaction to the failure of Washington's policy of reducing [Iran's] crude oil exports to zero,” he tweeted.

Zangeneh further said in his tweet: “The era of unilateralism is over in the world. Iran's oil industry will not be hamstrung. I have no assets or wealth outside of Iran to be subject to the sanctions.”

“I would sacrifice my life, belongings and reputation for Iran,” he said.