MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : EU/BRUSSELS IS TOUGH CONTRA SAUDIS BUT DEEPLY REGRETS TO THE HANGMEN IN TEHRAN / MOGHERINI
European Union “Deeply Regrets” US Sanctions
The European Union says it “deeply regrets” the imposition of comprehensive US sanctions on Iran from Sunday. 3 Nov 2018
A statement on Friday included the UK, France, and Germany, the three European members of the 5+1 Powers who reached a nuclear deal with Iran in July 2015. It said “collective resolve to complete this work is unwavering”, despite Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the US from the accord in May, and declared the agreement “crucial for the security of Europe, the region, and the entire world”.
The new US sanctions will cover Iran’s energy and financial sectors. It promises punishment of any company with an American interest that continues business with Tehran, unless that firm obtains a waiver from the US Treasury.The statement said it aims to protect companies “engaged in legitimate business with Iran”. But the EU has struggled to provide guarantees for its largest companies, with firms such as France’s energy giant Total, French auto manufacturer PSA, German conglomerate Siemens, the world’s largest shipper Maersk, and European airlines and aircraft manufacturers suspending business with the Islamic Republic.
On Friday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani appealed to the Europeans in an opinion piece in London’s Financial Times.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump celebrated the impending sanctions with a Twitter poster based on the TV series Game of Thrones: