The decision of US President Donald Trump to leave the nuclear deal with Iran defends American companies and exposes European firms, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“As you know, several European capitals, including Paris, have already publicly expressed their extreme concern over the undermining of the interests of French or European companies that operate in Iran, who may face sanctions from the United States,” Peskov said on Thursday. “In fact, we are talking about veiled protectionism, and we are talking about steps that are certainly absolutely contrary to the norms and rules of the World Trade Organization.”
After the Iranian nuclear deal was brokered by the UK, China, Russia, France, Germany and the US in 2015, many European companies rushed back to Iran’s lucrative market. France’s Airbus signed a $19 billion deal with Iran Air for 100 planes in late 2016, and has already begun delivering aircraft to Iran.
Trump’s move will lead to the re-imposition of American sanctions that were cancelled under the deal, including financial restrictions that had made it extremely difficult for global companies to do business with or in Iran.
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