France, Germany, UK, EU Slam New US Iran Sanctions

Local Editor

France, along with Germany, Britain and the European Union issued a joint condemnation Friday of the US move to place fresh sanctions on the Iranian economy, vowing to protect European companies doing "legitimate" business with Tehran.

"We deeply regret the re-imposition of sanctions by the United States stemming from their withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," the statement said in reference to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

Struck between world powers and Tehran after years of fraught negotiations, the deal was aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, US President Donald Trump announced in May that he was walking away from the deal and would re-impose sanctions, leaving the EU scrambling to protect companies that have forged trade links with Iran.

Friday's statement from EU nations defended the deal as "essential for the security of Europe, the region and the whole world."

"Our objective is to protect European economic actors involved in legitimate commercial trade with Iran," it added.

Europe will also seek to "maintain financial channels operational with Iran and to ensure the continuation of Iranian oil and gas exports," it said.

US officials said Friday that Washington was adding 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and pressuring the global SWIFT banking network to cut off Tehran when expanded sanctions are put in place next week.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team