Iran sanctions imposed despite global outcry

Despite global outcries and concerns, the US sanctions on Iran aimed at imposing "maximum economic pressure" on Teheran still took effect on Tuesday, three months after the United States pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal.

Calling the US move "deeply regrettable", Federica Mogherini, the European Union diplomatic chief, said on Tuesday that the EU is encouraging enterprises to increase their business with Iran, as the country has been compliant with its nuclear-related commitments.

"We are doing our best to keep Iran in the deal, to keep Iran benefiting from the economic benefits that the agreement brings to the people of Iran because we believe this is in the security interests of not only our region, but also of the world. If there is one piece of international agreements on nuclear non-proliferation that is delivering, it has to be maintained," Mogherini said.

European ministers said the Iran deal was crucial for the security of Europe and the world, and the European Union issued a "blocking statute" on Monday to protect European businesses from the impact of the sanctions.

"We are encouraging small and medium enterprises in particular to increase business with and in Iran as part of something (that) for us is a security priority," Mogherini said, explaining that trade is an integral part of the nuclear deal.

US President Donald Trump said the 2015 agreement was "horrible".

Iran accused the US of reneging on the nuclear agreement and of causing recent economic unrest in Iran.

A UN spokesman said on Monday that the United Nations continued to encourage support from all governments for the deal.

Iran's long-term traditional trade partners, Turkey and India, had also vowed earlier not to recognize the US unilateral sanctions.

A first set of reimposed US sanctions affect financial transactions that involve US dollars, Iran's automotive sector, the purchase of commercial planes and metals including gold.

A second batch of US sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and central bank are to be reimposed in early November.

The White House had warned that "those who fail to wind down activities with Iran risk severe consequences".

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said global reaction to the new sanctions showed that the US was diplomatically "isolated", but acknowledged the sanctions "may cause some disruption".

Gao Shangtao, an associate professor at China Foreign Affairs University, said the US decision to withdraw from the deal in May has caused the EU to face large economic losses, and Trump is trying to force Iran to sign a new deal that is more favorable to the US.

Dong Manyuan, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, echoed it, saying the US withdrawal only shows it has imposed its domestic interests and ambition above international order.

While crippling sanctions were in force on Tuesday, Trump said he "remains open" to reaching a more comprehensive deal if Teheran "changes its threatening, destabilizing behavior".

But his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani dismissed the idea of talks, saying the US wants to launch "psychological warfare against the Iranian nation", adding that "negotiations with sanctions doesn't make sense".

Luo Huining, AP and Xinhua contributed to this story.

panmengqi@chinadaily.com.cn