BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON—‘’We deeply regret the re-imposition of sanctions by the US, due to the latter’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),’’ said a joint statement by EU fofeign policy chief Federica Mogherini and French, German and British Foreign Ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian, Heiko Maas and Jeremy Hunt on the US decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran.
The sanctions will target Iran’s automotive sector and trade in gold and other metals.
The sanctions are being imposed as a result of US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Tehran, known as the JCPOA, in May. Sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and central banks will take effect in November.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “The United States is going to enforce these sanctions… It’s an important part of our efforts to push back against Iranian malign activity.” He urged Iran to, “behave like a normal country.”
Pompeo also touched on recent protests that had swept Iran, stating: “The Iranian people are not happy — not with the Americans but with their own leadership. we want the Iranian people to have a strong voice in who their leadership will be.”
The EU statement says : ‘’The JCPOA is working and delivering on its goal, namely to ensure that the Iranian programme remains exclusively peaceful, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 11 consecutive reports. It is a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, crucial for the security of Europe, the region, and the entire world. We expect Iran to continue to fully implement all its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA.’’
It adds : ‘’The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions is an essential part of the deal – it aims at having a positive impact not only on trade and economic relations with Iran, but most importantly on the lives of the Iranian people. We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN Security Council resolution 2231. This is why the European Union’s updated Blocking Statute enters into force on 7 August to protect EU companies doing legitimate business with Iran from the impact of US extra-territorial sanctions.’’
The statement continues : ‘’The remaining parties to the JCPOA have committed to work on, inter alia, the preservation and maintenance of effective financial channels with Iran, and the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas. On these, as on other topics, our work continues, including with third countries interested in supporting the JCPOA and maintaining economic relations with Iran. These efforts will be intensified and reviewed at Ministerial level in the coming weeks.’’
The EU statement concludes that ‘’preserving the nuclear deal with Iran is a matter of respecting international agreements and a matter of international security.’’
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged countries to continue doing business with Iran even after the resumption of US sanctions. However, companies doing business with Iran risk secondary US sanctions and penalties. The Iranian regime announced emergency measures yesterday to prevent a currency collapse and the Central Bank announced new currency measures and a list of supplies that will attract favourable exchange rates for hard currency.
Demonstrations and protests have continued in Iran. A man was killed during a protest in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran. During demonstrations in the capital, the chant “Death to the dictator” was heard and there have also been small rallies in Shiraz, Isfahan and the holy city of Qom.
The protests have often begun with slogans against the high cost of living and financial corruption but quickly turned into anti-government rallies.