Pompeo Slams EU's 'Counterproductive' Measures to Bypass U.S. Sanctions on Iran

'By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran’s ranking as (the) No. 1 state sponsor of terror,' U.S. secretary of state says

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the United Against Nuclear Iran Summit on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City,September 25, 2018.

The European Union’s plans for a “special purpose vehicle” (SPV) designed to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Iran’s oil exports is deeply counterproductive, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.

>>UN General Assembly can laugh at Trump, but they're impotent as Trumpism spreads | Analysis

“Unfortunately, just last night I was disturbed and indeed deeply disappointed to hear remaining parties in the Iran (nuclear) deal announce they are setting up a special payment system to bypass U.S. sanctions. This is one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional global peace and security,” Pompeo said at conference. “By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran’s ranking as (the) No. 1 state sponsor of terror.”


U.S. President Donald Trump decided in May to abandon the pact and to restore economic sanctions on Iran, including those that seek to force the OPEC member's major oil customers to stop buying Iranian crude. 

To really understand Israel and the Middle East - subscribe to Haaretz


"Mindful of the urgency and the need for tangible results, the participants welcomed practical proposals to maintain and develop payment channels notably the initiative to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate payments related to Iran's exports, including oil," the group said in a joint statement issued after the statement. 






"The key is to keep all possibilities open so that we can signal to the Iranians that the door isn't closing," said a senior French diplomat. 
The European Union, has so far failed to devise a workable legal framework to shield its companies from U.S. sanctions that go into effect in November and that, among other things, seek to choke off Iran's oil sales, diplomats said. 
