Iran criticized the European signatories of its 2015 nuclear deal for failing to save the pact after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of it.
“So far, we have not seen practical and tangible steps from the Europeans to guarantee Iran’s interests… Tehran will not discuss any issue beyond the nuclear deal,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.”
“The EU is not in a position to question Iran’s issues beyond the nuclear deal,” Mousavi added.
Earlier, the US Treasury Department imposed new Iran-related sanctions, targeting the country’s petrochemical sector, which includes a petrochemical holding with a vast network of subsidiaries and sales agents.
Tensions have continued to rise in the Middle East after Washington left a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers and reimposed unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Washington further intensified tensions after it decided to build up its military presence in the Persian Gulf region, when it dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber task force, and an amphibious assault ship to the Persian Gulf, citing an alleged Iranian threat.
Iran says it poses no threat to anyone but would defend itself against any aggression.
The US sanctions against Iran mostly target its oil industry and are directed at reducing the country’s exports to zero.
In turn, China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the UK, and the EU criticized Washington for its unilateral withdrawal from the agreement and the decision not to extend waivers for nuclear non-proliferation projects. Commenting on the US move, the signatories of the accord stressed that the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions was an essential part of the JCPOA.
Source: Sputnik
