EU firms won’t heed US anti-Iran threats: MP

A senior Iranian legislator says the US-engineered sanctions against the Islamic Republic are falling apart, and European companies will not heed Washington’s threats against the enhancement of business ties with Tehran.

“Truth is that the high wall of the sanctions has broken,” said Chairman of Iran’s Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi on Friday.

“And Americans are furious at the presence of a high-ranking delegation comprised of more than 100 (executives from) French firms in Tehran; so much so that the US has threatened France with sanctions while Europeans are well aware of the US’s policy and know that the US has no mercy even on its friends,” Boroujerdi added.

He also dismissed the recent remarks by US officials that Iran is “not open for business,” stating that such comments won’t be taken into account.

“Given the fact that the Americans themselves are engaged in negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is unlikely that they would be able to deceive Europeans and other world countries once again,” Boroujerdi pointed out.

The senior Iranian MP further noted that the presence of representatives from European firms in Iran and their eagerness to forge closer trade ties with the Islamic Republic are indicative of the fact that the US has failed to impose unreasonable pressure on Europe.

Testifying before Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman and Treasury Department official David Cohen told US lawmakers that the sanctions relief for Iran is limited and the countries evading the sanctions would be punished.

Cohen said he has travelled to Britain, Germany, Italy, Austria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates over the last six weeks, carrying the message that, “Iran is not open for business.”

On Monday, a French business delegation arrived in Iran to explore trade opportunities amid the easing of sanctions following a landmark nuclear deal clinched between Iran and six major powers in Geneva last November. The deal went into effect on January 20.

The visit was the latest among a number of similar trips by Asian and European businessmen.