ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The European Union’s decision on Friday to send Iran a $20.7 million package of financial aid to mitigate the effects of US sanctions “sends the wrong message”, a top US official has warned.
“Foreign aid from European taxpayers perpetuates the regime’s ability to neglect the needs of its people and stifles meaningful policy changes,” Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, said in a statement.
“The Iranian people face very real economic pressures caused by their government’s corruption, mismanagement, and deep investment in terrorism and foreign conflicts,” he added.
President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) in May, arguing the deal, also signed by European powers, Russia, and China, did not go far enough to prevent Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon.
A raft of sanctions targeting Iran’s trade, banking, and oil sectors have been reintroduced and will be applied in stages. Besides curtailing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the sanctions are also designed to pressure the Iranian government to end it interference in regional conflicts.
Even before the first round of sanctions kicked in, Iran’s currency lost 40 percent of its value since May, placing huge economic strain on ordinary Iranians.
European signatories of the Iran nuclear deal are fighting to keep the agreement afloat, arguing Iran has met all of its commitments. They are also concerned about the impact of sanctions on European business interests.
“The United States and the European Union should be working together instead to find lasting solutions that truly support Iran’s people and end the regime’s threats to regional and global stability,” Hook argued.
“More money in the hands of the ayatollah means more money to conduct assassinations in those very European countries,” he added.
“Foreign aid from European taxpayers perpetuates the regime’s ability to neglect the needs of its people and stifles meaningful policy changes,” Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, said in a statement.
“The Iranian people face very real economic pressures caused by their government’s corruption, mismanagement, and deep investment in terrorism and foreign conflicts,” he added.
President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) in May, arguing the deal, also signed by European powers, Russia, and China, did not go far enough to prevent Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon.
A raft of sanctions targeting Iran’s trade, banking, and oil sectors have been reintroduced and will be applied in stages. Besides curtailing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the sanctions are also designed to pressure the Iranian government to end it interference in regional conflicts.
Even before the first round of sanctions kicked in, Iran’s currency lost 40 percent of its value since May, placing huge economic strain on ordinary Iranians.
European signatories of the Iran nuclear deal are fighting to keep the agreement afloat, arguing Iran has met all of its commitments. They are also concerned about the impact of sanctions on European business interests.
“This new package will widen economic and sectoral relations in areas that are of direct benefit to our citizens,” Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, said on Friday, according to Reuters.
Hook disputed the claim.
“The United States and the European Union should be working together instead to find lasting solutions that truly support Iran’s people and end the regime’s threats to regional and global stability,” Hook argued.
“More money in the hands of the ayatollah means more money to conduct assassinations in those very European countries,” he added.
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