European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici
The European Union is opposed to the United States' decision to reimpose oil and financial sanctions against Iran, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Monday.
"The European Union does not approve of it," Moscovici told franceinfo radio, hours after further U.S. sanctions on Iran came into force.
Washington decided to reinstate punitive measures that were lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of President Barack Obama, and added 300 new designations in Iran's oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors.
The United States reimposes oil and financial sanctions against Iran on Monday, significantly turning up the pressure on Tehran in order to curb its missile and nuclear programs and counter its growing military and political influence in the Middle East.The move will restore U.S. sanctions that were lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of President Barack Obama, and add 300 new designations in Iran's oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors.President Donald Trump announced in May that his administration was withdrawing from what he called the "worst ever" agreement negotiated by the United States. Other parties to the deal, including Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, have said they will not leave.Details of the sanctions will be released at a news conference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT) with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.China, India, South Korea, Japan and Turkey - all top importers of Iranian oil - are among eight countries expected to be given temporary exemptions from the sanctions to ensure crude oil prices are not destabilised.Rouhani says Iran to sell oil, break US sanctionsUS resumes all pre-nuclear deal sanctions on IranThe countries will deposit Iran's revenue in an escrow account, U.S. officials have said.Washington has said it will ensure a well supplied global oil market, with help from ally Saudi Arabia, as Iran oil is cut back. Front-month Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $72.53 per barrel on Monday.The reimposition of the sanctions comes as the United States is focused on U.S. congressional and gubernatorial elections on Tuesday. Campaigning in Chattanooga, Tennessee, late on Sunday, Trump said his "maximum pressure" policy against Iran was working."Iran is a much different country than it was when I took office," said Trump, adding: "They wanted to take over the whole Middle East. Right now they just want to survive."Earlier, thousands of Iranians chanted "Death to America" at a rally to mark the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that Iran should implement policies to safeguard its macroeconomic stability in the face of sanctions.Senior Iranian officials have dismissed concerns about the impact to its economy."America will not be able to carry out any measure against our great and brave nation ... We have the knowledge and the capability to manage the country's economic affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told state TV on Friday.Second wave of US sanctions on Iran starts MondayIranian marchers chant 'Death to America' on eve of US oil sanctionsBahrain court overturns acquittal of opposition leaders
US ratchets up pressure on Iran with resumption of sanctions
Iranian protesters staged rallies against the U.S. in the capital Tehran on Sunday, which marks 39th anniversary of the capture of the U.S. Embassy in 1979.“America, America, death to your deceptions” and “Death to America, death to Israel!” chanted protesters as they marched in the capital, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported.Several political and military officials took part in the rallies, including Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.Addressing the protesters, Jafari said Nov. 4 represents the conflict between Iran and the U.S.Iran will sell oil, break US sanctions, President Rouhani says“Never threaten the Iranian people… do not make military threats against us, and do not frightenus by military threats,” Jafari was quoted as saying by Tehran Times.On Nov. 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American hostages for 444 days.The detention process caused a long crisis between Tehran and Washington before being ended with the signing of the Algiers Agreements on Jan. 19, 1981, when the hostages were released on the following day.US resumes all pre-nuclear deal sanctions on Iran
Iranians stage anti-US rallies in Tehran
Iran will sell its oil and break sanctions reimposed by the United States on its vital energy and banking sectors, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told economists at a meeting broadcast live on state television on Monday."America wanted to cut to zero Iran's oil sales ... but we will continue to sell our oil ... to break sanctions," Rouhani said.The United States said on Friday it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil when it re-imposes sanctions on Monday aimed at forcing Tehran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities.China, India, South Korea, Japan and Turkey - all top importers of Iranian oil - are among eight countries expected to be given temporary exemptions from the sanctions to ensure crude oil prices are not destabilised.US resumes all pre-nuclear deal sanctions on IranThe restoration of sanctions is part of a wider effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programs as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East."Today the enemy (the United States) is targeting our economy ... the main target of sanctions is our people," Rouhani said.In May, Trump exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and Washington reimposed first round of sanctions on Iran in August.The deal saw most international financial and economic sanctions on Iran lifted in return for Tehran curbing its disputed nuclear activity under U.N. surveillance.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the penalties set to return on Monday "are the toughest sanctions ever put in place on the Islamic Republic of Iran."However, Iran's clerical rulers have dismissed concerns about the impact of sanctions on the country's economy."This is an economic war against Iran but ... America should learn that it can not use the language of force against Iran ... We are prepared to resist any pressure," Rouhani said.To keep the deal alive, the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal are trying to maintain trade with Tehran despite scepticism this is possible despite U.S. sanctions to choke off Iranian oil sales.
Rouhani says Iran to sell oil, break US sanctions