European signatories of the nuclear deal with Iran released a joint statement on Monday condemning the United States’ reintroduction of sanctions against Tehran for going against their goal of peacefully monitoring the country’s nuclear program.
The European Union and the United Kingdom intend to work to keep “effective financial channels” open with Iran.
“We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with E.U. law and with U.N. Security Council resolution 2231,” said the statement.
The United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on May 18. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, re-imposing the sanctions against Tehran that were lifted when the U.S. joined the agreement in 2015.
“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,” the European signatories said in the statement.
European members of the JCPOA plan to implement counter measures to the U.S. sanctions which are expected to begin at midnight.