EU deeply regrets restored US sanctions on Iran

The European Union’s (EU) foreign service on Monday said in a statement that it deeply regrets the restored U.S. sanctions against Iran. 

“We deeply regret the re-imposition of sanctions by the U.S., due to the latter’s withdrawal from the [2015 Iran nuclear deal],” the EU foreign service said in the statement, which was first reported by Reuters.

“It is a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, crucial for the security of Europe, the region, and the entire world.”

“The remaining parties to the [nuclear deal] 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,” the EU continued.

The U.S. on Monday will reimpose sanctions against Iran’s automotive industry, as well as gold and other metals. 

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The sanctions will be put back following President Trump’s decision to leave former President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, which rolled back sanctions against Tehran in exchange for a reduction in the country’s nuclear abilities.   

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said sanctions are central to the U.S. diplomatic strategy against Iran, which he called the “world’s largest state sponsor of terror.” 

“We’re very hopeful that we can find a way to move forward, but it’s going to require enormous change on the part of the Iranian regime,” Pompeo told reporters. “They’ve got to — well, they’ve got to behave like a normal country. That’s the ask. It’s pretty simple.” 

Pompeo said the Trump administration will make an announcement on Monday about how the reimposed sanctions will move forward.

The State Department in recent weeks has launched a pressure campaign against the Iranian government, calling its leaders corrupt and even “mafia”-like while supporting those protesting it on the ground. 

Trump last month on Twitter issued an all-caps threat against Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, warning his country “will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before” if Rouhani continued to issue threats against the U.S. 

Trump’s tweet came in response to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s claim that aggressive actions by the U.S. against Iran could lead to the “mother of all wars,” while a peaceful strategy in the region could result in “the mother of all peace.”