29 Mar 2024


Sputnik - EU companies are free to choose whether or not to continue working in Iran after the United States reinstates its sanctions on Iran, European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said on Wednesday, adding that the bloc had launched the Blocking Statue with the specific purpose of protecting EU businesses in this regard.



"According tothe EU Blocking Statute, EU operators are free toconduct their business asthey see fit inaccordance withthe EU law and national applicable laws. This means that they are free tochoose whether tostart working, continue or seize business operations inIran, and whether or not toengage inthe economic sector onthe basis oftheir assessment ofthe economic situation. The purpose ofthe EU Blocking Statute is exactly toensure that such business decisions remain free," Andreeva said ata press briefing, adding that the European Union did not recognize the extraterritorial application ofthe US sanctions.


According toAndreeva, the statute aims atnullifying any effect the sanctions may have forEU entities choosing tocontinue doing business inIran. They do not have toseek the European Commission's authorization foreither staying inIran or leaving sincethe commission was not sanctioning any "free business decision."

The comments come afterthefirst batch ofUS sanctionsagainstIran, previously lifted underthe 2015 nuclear deal, came back intoeffect early onTuesday underan executive order signed byUS President Donald Trump.
In May, Trump announced that the United States would withdraw fromthe landmark Iran nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions onIran that were lifted underthe agreement. The European Union responded toTrump's move byactivating the EU Blocking Statute that exempts the EU companies doing legitimate business inIran fromcomplying withthe US restrictions.



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