US implements sanctions against Iran, EU passes anti-boycott act

The White House is reimplementing sanctions against Iran, details to be announced later. Meanwhile the European Union is in objection and announced that they will be complying with the nuclear deal.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that the White House will be detailing the sanctions to be reimplemented on Monday on US President Donald Trump’s demand.

In May, Donald Trump had decided to walk out of the nuclear deal signed in July 2015 in Vienna between the US, Russia, China, France, the UK and Germany and Iran. The first sanctions against Iran will go into effect this Monday.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and the UK issued a joint statement and said the reimplementation of sanctions is “distressing”. The statement stressed that they will continue to work to preserve the nuclear deal.

The statement also said signatory states will “work to secure the continuation of Iranian oil and gas exports and to continue and preserve effective financial ties with Iran”.

EU countries stated that, in compliance with the UN Security Council decree no.2231 and European jurisdiction, they are determined to protect European economic actors who “engage in legitimate commercial relationships with Iran”.

The statement said, “For this reason, the EU’s updated anti-boycott act will go into effect on August 7 to protect EU companies who have legitimate commercial relationships with Iran.”