US Senators warn France, Germany and Great Britain against evading Iranian sanctions
Ten US Senators sent a letter to the Embassies of Germany, Great Britain and France, urging them to deepen transatlantic cooperation against Iran and warning them against evading sanctions against the country, as stated on the website of one of the document’s signatories, Senator Ted Cruz.
"We write to urge you to comply with all American sanctions but also to emphasize we would consider it particularly troubling if you sought to evade or undermine American statutes. First, these statutes align with your governments’ commitment to deepen cooperation addressing Iran’s ballistic missile program and destabilizing activities. Second, they were passed over several years by overwhelming bipartisan majorities–including in some cases via unanimous Senate passage–and Congress is obligated to ensure their implementation,” the letter said.
The letter was also signed by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Ala.).
“These laws were passed by Congress, signed by President Obama, and will be enforced by President Trump. Congressional leaders of both parties have taken a firm stance in support of them. They are not the policies of one party or one branch, but the considered and long-term policy of the United States as expressed by Congress. Any attempt to evade or undermine them could well prompt Congressional action, in coordination with other elements of the U.S. government, to ensure their integrity,” the Senators added in their address.
Iran faces US sanctions after US President Donald Trump stated that the US would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and promised to impose severe sanctions against Teheran. Trump accused the Iranian regime of violating the terms of their agreements and of continuing to develop nuclear weapons.
The USA’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement was prompted by the report of Israeli intelligence that Iran secretly continues to work on the development of nuclear weapons. The European Union did not support Trump’s actions. Brussels stated that the EU, France, Britain and Germany support the nuclear deal and do not intend to terminate it.
The agreement between Iran and the USA, Russia, Germany, Britain, France and China was signed in 2015. It provides for the phase out of the Iranian nuclear program and control over it in exchange for a gradual lifting of sanctions.