Mr Trump has said he would “fully enforce” the measures being reimposed as a result of the US withdrawal from the 2015 JPCA deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons – prompting a defiant stance from EU leaders.
In today’s early morning tweet, the US President this morning said: “The Iran sanctions have officially been cast.
“These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level.
“Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States.
“I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!”
Mr Trump’s words were an apparent response to yesterday’s joint statement released by the all 28 EU member states, including UK, France and Germany – which were also parties to the 2015 accord along with Russia and China,
In it, signatories – including UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt – expressed “deep regret” at the US move.
The statement added: “The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions is an essential part of the deal; it aims at having a positive impact not only on trade and economic relations with Iran, but most importantly on the lives of the Iranian people.
“We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN security council resolution 2231.
“This is why the European Union’s updated blocking statute enters into force on 7 August to protect EU companies doing legitimate business with Iran from the impact of US extra-territorial sanctions.”
European firms have been told not to comply with demands from the White House for them to stop doing business with Iran.
Those who decide to do so will need to be granted authorisation from the European commission, with failure to do so leaving them at risk of being sued by EU member states.
In addition, a mechanism has also been set up which would allow EU businesses affected by the sanctions to sue the US administration in the national courts of member states.
Speaking after the publication of the EU statement, a senior Trump administration official told reporters: “This is completely consistent with what the president has done with other less friendly regimes to keep the maximum pressure until our goals are achieved.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani, praised the EU for its stance.
He also dismissed the sanctions as “psychological warfare” aimed at helping Mr Trump’s political allies gearing up for November’s midterm elections.