France, Germany, the UK and the EU are very disappointed that the American sanctions against Iran are being reinstated. They issued a joint statement to that effect on Friday.
“Our aim is to protect European economic businesses who are involved in legitimate trade with Iran,” the statement says. It was signed by the EU’s head of diplomacy Federica Mogherini, the French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German and British counterparts Heiko Mass and Jeremy Hunt.
The Global Communal Plan of Action (JCPOA) “is necessary to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and help multi-lateral diplomacy. It is essential for the security of Europe, the region and the entire world”, the statement says.
“As part of JCPOA, we have committed ourselves to working with Iran and preserving and maintaining financial exchange with Iran. We also need to ensure the continuation of Iranian gas and oil exports. Our work on this and other issues continues and has intensified over the last few weeks”, the statement says.
Six months after closing the door on the Iranian nuclear agreement, on Friday the US confirmed that it would reinstate the most severe sanctions against Iran. These mostly affect oil and banks, but doubts about this controversial “maximum pressure” campaign persist.
t
The Brussels Times
