August 9, The Iran Project – Many large European banks still refrain from engaging in transactions with Iran due to pressure from the United States,  the AEOI head Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday.

Ali Akbar Salehi, Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), referred to the efforts made by the Western countries in exerting pressures and imposing various kinds of threats on the Iranian negotiating team in the course of nuclear talks, blaming Westerners for putting obstacles in the way of JCPOA implementation.

In meantime, major European banks that have deep relationships with the US banking system, have balked at the idea of resuming transaction with Iran, fearing punitive US measures.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, in a meeting with European banks to discuss the Iran talks on May 9, attempted to ignore US sanctions role in avoiding trade with Iran but it yields no fruit in practice.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia — plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA on January 16.

Under the deal, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US would be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

Islamic Republic of Iran has strongly committed to its obligations under the JCPOA but the United States and the European Union violate the nuclear deal with many U.S. sanctions remain in place, including a ban on Iran-linked transactions in dollars being processed through the U.S. financial system so international businesses remain wary of doing business with Iran.

On August 8, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif once again warned US against its lack of commitment to nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, saying that American officials are “making a mistake” because the Iranian nation’s distrust of US is growing day by day as a result of Washington’s lack of commitment to the deal.