US Rejects European Plea for Exemptions From Iran Sanctions
The Trump Administration has refused wide-ranging protections for European companies operating in Iran, rejecting appeals from Britain, France and Germany for exemptions from sanctions on the Tehran regime.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote, in response to a 4 June letter from the European countries, that the administration would not approve the plea for relief, with only limited exemptions allowed based on humanitarian or national security reasons.
The Administration, after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal on 8 May, has plans to reimpose stiff economic sanctions on Iran, with the 1st wave to take place by August and a 2nd set of sanctions to hit in November.
The letter from The Trump Administration to the European leaders said the Iran nuclear deal had failed to “guarantee the safety of the American people,” and that the United States planned a “tangible, demonstrable and sustained shift in the policies we have enumerated.”
Further, the United States plans to “provide unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime,” and is not in a position to make exceptions except in the cases of national security or humanitarian reasons.
The State Department declined to comment.
Britain, France and Germany disagree with the United States’ decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, and in the letter sent last month, asked the United States to not punish firms involved in certain sectors, such as auto manufacturing, aviation, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and energy, for dealing with Iran.
Meanwhile, Secretary Pompeo has plans an address on 22 July titled “Supporting Iranian Voices,” after posting a series of Tweets endorsing Iranian citizens anti-government protests.
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Paul Ebeling
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