Iran threatens to restore uranium enrichment
Iran would to restore uranium enrichment if Europe supports US sanctions, stated the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in an interview for Der Spiegel.
Zarif claims that the European Union did not respond appropriately to the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement.
“Europeans and other signatories must act to compensate for the consequences of US sanctions,” he said and stressed that first of all this concerns the banking system and oil business.
In the event of a violation of the “balance” Iran is considering a complete withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, signed in 2015, or may only partially implement it and return to enrichment of uranium.
Zarif also urged that EU countries to impose fines on European companies that stop business in Iran because of US sanctions.
“Europeans need to decide whether they are ready to put their words into action,” he declared. At the moment, he said, it seems that Europe “obeys America’s directives.”
In early August, the US restored economic sanctions against Iran and companies that cooperate with Iran, accusing Iran of not fulfill the conditions of the nuclear agreement.
The EU expressed regret over these sanctions and in response the European Union introduced a new law aiming to protecting European companies from sanctions, when doing business in Iran.