Israeli PM cries fouls as more EU states join Iran trade system
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed European countries for joining a new mechanism aimed at maintaining trade with Iran despite US sanctions.
In a video released on Sunday, Netanyahu said European countries “should be ashamed of themselves” for pursing trade with Iran, claiming that they were enabling Tehran “to develop nuclear weapons.”
Last week, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden announced that they would join a non-dollar trade mechanism with Iran.
Britain, France, and Germany announced the establishment of the system, officially called the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), in January.
The apparatus is expected to circumvent the sanctions that the United States began reimposing against Iran after leaving a nuclear deal with Tehran, the European trio, and Russia and China.
Hours after his statement, Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump on the phone and discussed the alleged “threat from Iran.”
Iran was in compliance of the 2015 international agreement until the US pulled out of the deal in May last year and reimposed economic sanctions.
European signatories to the deal have sought to find ways to help Tehran evade the US restrictions. Iran is increasing the pressure on Europe to do so, by gradually walking away from its nuclear commitments.
The decision by the six European countries was apparently taken to pacify the Islamic Republic which has said its patience is over after a year of living under the US sanctions.
In May, Iran initiated a set of countermeasures against Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, and the Europeans' failure to guarantee Tehran’s business interests under the accord.
The countermeasures have seen Tehran surpass the 3.67-percent cap set by the deal on the level of its uranium enrichment, and the 130-tonne ceiling placed on its heavy water reservoir.
Iran had accepted the limits voluntarily as part of the deal, despite not being obligated by the UN nuclear agency to commit to any such restrictions.
Tehran has vowed to reverse all its nuclear responses as soon as the other JCPOA signatories begin fully implementing their nuclear obligations.
IAEA chief to visit Tehran as Iran ‘committed’ to safeguards agreement: Deputy FM
IAEA chief Grossi announces trip to Tehran as Trump heads to White House
Iran among top nuclear technology countries: AEOI chief
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Nurses protest against Israeli genocide at UN HQ
VIDEO | France-Israel football row
VIDEO | Archbishop of Canterbury quits over handling of abuse by pedo volunteer John Smyth
Hezbollah hits Tel Aviv with ballistic missiles; debuts tactical rocket in anti-Israeli struggle
VIDEO | Iraqi resistance fighters strike ‘vital targets’ across occupied territories
VIDEO | Hezbollah leader to fighters: You are the pride shaking foundations of Zionism
Iran not worried that Trump may toughen oil sanctions: Minister
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
