Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian said the European Union could impose new sanctions on Iran, in a new step that could affect the nuclear deal between Iran and Europe.
Le Drian suggested on Wednesday that Paris was seriously considering triggering a mechanism within the Iran nuclear deal that could lead to U.N. sanctions.
This move comes after the Iranian regime repressed protests across the country. According to Amnesty International figures, more than 100 people were shot down during the protests last week.
During a parliamentary hearing, Le Drian said that “It seems to prove the U.S. is right in their logic of maximum pressure, given the behavior of the Supreme Leader and President Hassan Rouhani toward the protesters.”
President Donald Trump imposed sanctions In September aiming at Iran’s Central Bank, saying that it would cut the funding of the Revolutionary Guards. Trump accused the group of funding terrorism in the Middle East.
Despite these sanctions, France’s administration tried over recent months to save the nuclear deal with Iran. If France overturns its support, other countries in the pact might follow suit, and the Iranian regime could lose support in both the United States and Europe.
Opponents of the Tehran regime are calling for more sanctions from Europe’s state leaders.
Coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change, Struan Stevenson, is one of them.
“There was a recent publication in Europe that shows that three countries in Europe that are making most trades with Iran now, France, Germany, and the Netherland,” Stevenson said. “Billions of dollars of business still being done.”
According to Stevenson, the EU appeasement policy toward Iran is beneficial for businesses but detrimental to human rights.
On Nov. 11, Ferman Foreign Minister Heiko Maas suggested putting more sanctions on Iran.
“We want to maintain the nuclear deal, but Iran has to finally return to its commitments and respect them,” Maas said. “Otherwise, we are ready to use all mechanisms that are included in the agreement.”
The Iranian regime said earlier this month it could refine up to 60 percent of fissile purity; not far off the 90 percent level needed for nuclear bomb fuel.
Reporting by David Vives.
