Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A scandal flares up between the EU and the US over sanctions against Iran. The disagreements were especially aggravated after the US State Department on 20 August 2020 officially notified the UN Security Council of Washington’s initiative to restore sanctions against Tehran. The White House decided to take such a step after the UN Security Council rejected a draft US resolution to extend the arms embargo against Iran.

According to M. Pompeo, he also discussed with UN Secretary General A. Guterres the issue of restoring anti-Iranian sanctions through the use of a special snapback mechanism for the 2015 nuclear deal. This mechanism allows restoring all sanctions that were previously approved by the UN before the deal was concluded, if it will be proven that Iran has violated the agreement.

In turn, France, Germany and Great Britain in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the three countries, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy J. Borrell opposed the US plan. In their opinion, the American initiative to restore anti-Iranian sanctions does not correspond to their efforts to support the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), which is the key to the nuclear deal with Iran.

European countries believe that Iran’s systematic violations of its obligations under the JPSA should be resolved "through dialogue." At the same time, European ministers urged to refrain from steps that "would deepen the differences in the UN Security Council or clearly negatively affect its work."

Such a reaction of the European capitals caused harsh criticism from M. Pompeo. According to the head of the State Department, "they privately agree with the concerns of the United States, but do not have the courage to state it publicly." According to M. Pompeo, "without offering anything concrete in return, the European countries chose to side with Ayatollah" and their actions endanger not only the peoples of the Middle East, but also their own citizens. "

In general, analysts note that the differences between the US and the EU on Iranian issues are growing and this trajectory of events will further worsen their relationship. For the EU, maintaining the JCPOA is a key decision as it is not only the best way to ensure security in the Middle East, but also an economic benefit for European manufacturers.