After Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement and reimposed sanctions, European governments vowed to keep the deal afloat. Instex, a financing and barter exchange program, was set up to facilitate European companies selling goods and services to Iran without using dollars. Instex also aimed to shield European companies from US “secondary sanctions” that punish non-U.S. banks, companies and people who do business with Iran. But nine months later, Instex is just barely off the ground with limited operations. On August 25, 2019, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif flew in to the G7 summit in France at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Zarif met only with Macron in France, but the message to both Trump and the European allies was clear: the Trump-manufactured crisis with Iran must be settled through diplomacy. Add your name to our letter thanking Macron for inviting Zarif and calling on the European countries to do more to overcome the crisis with Iran created by Trump, Bolton, and Pompeo.
Dear President Macron and European Countries,
We the undersigned appreciate greatly the efforts of French President to support diplomacy with Iran by inviting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for side meetings during the G7 summit in France. The message that was sent by this action was clear: Trump-manufactured crisis with Iran must be settled through diplomacy and European countries must act to save the deal they were instrumental in negotiating.
After Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement and reimposed sanctions, you, the European allies vowed to keep the deal afloat. Instex, a financing and barter exchange program, was set up to facilitate European companies selling goods and services to Iran without using dollars. Instex also aimed to shield European companies from US “secondary sanctions” that punish non-U.S. banks, companies and people who do business with Iran.
But nine months later, Instex is just barely off the ground with limited operations.
Food and humanitarian aid are supposed to be exempt from US sanctions on Iran, but that’s not the experience befalling the people. Between June 2018 and June 2019, the price of food in Iran skyrocketed by 80%. In Iran’s cancer patients are paying with their lives as equipment functions poorly and there is no reliable supply of drugs. Even access international scientific and medical journals is blocked.
Trump’s fight with Iran is having other negative consequences on Iranian society as. As sanctions have tightened and life in Iran has become more difficult, the hardliners are have been gaining more power. The human rights situation in Iran is deteriorating and women are being targeted in extreme and unprecedented ways. The rights that Iranian women had been making are being rolled back. More journalists and activists are being jailed for criticizing the government.
Next month, Iran’s self-imposed deadline for saving the nuclear deal will expire. At that point, Iran may start to enrich uranium to up 20%. Right now, thanks to Trump, the message being sent to Iran, and countries across the globe, is that the best way to protect themselves from US intervention is to obtain a nuclear weapons as fast as possible. It’s urgent we turn things around and so it is necessary for you, the European allies, to do much more to counteract the painful US sanctions and relieve Iran’s economic crisis.
Europe’s actions to help Iran must become more than symbolic. Iran must be able to sell its oil, trade with other countries, and have full access to medicine. Though you didn’t create this problem, it is your responsibility to do everything you can to mediate it. Intex must move forward and become fully operational and the new version of the Blocking Statute--rules letting companies seek compensation in EU courts for damages arising from US sanctions--must be enforced. Please act now.
Sincerely,
