Several European countries have set up a new transaction channel that will allow companies to continue trading with Irandespite US sanctions. The announcement was made on Thursday.

The channel, set up by Germany, France and the UK, is called  INSTEX — short for "Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges."

"We're making clear that we didn't just talk about keeping the nuclear deal with Iran alive, but now we're creating a possibility to conduct business transactions," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters Thursday after a meeting with European counterparts in Bucharest, Romania.

"This is a precondition for us to meet the obligations we entered into in order to demand from Iran that it doesn't begin military uranium enrichment," Maas said.

The payment channel allows for European countries to continue trade with Iran but could put them on a collision course with Washington.

Read more: Iran sanctions: 5 things to know

What is INSTEX?

• A "special purpose vehicle" that will allow European businesses to trade with Iran, despite strict US sanctions.
• According to media reports, INSTEX will be based in Paris and will be managed by German banking expert Per Fischer, a former manager at Commerzbank. The UK will head the supervisory board.
• The European side intends to use the channel initially only to sell food, medicine and medical devices in Iran. However, it will be possible to expand it in the future.

'Facilitating' trade with Iran

"This is an important step and a political signal by E3, who feel duty bound to uphold the Iran nuclear deal as long as Iran fulfills all its obligations as set out in the treaty," German government sources told DW, referring to the three EU countries. "The E3 have emphasized their aim of facilitating legitimate trade relations with Iran."

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television it was "a first step taken by the European side ... We hope it will cover all goods and items."

US reaction

The Trump administration had warned the European Union against trying to sidestep sanctions on Iran.

On Thursday, the US State Department said it was "closely following" reports on the European mechanism.

"As the president has made clear, entities that continue to engage in sanctionable activity involving Iran risk severe consequences that could include losing access to the U.S. financial system and the ability to do business with the United States or US companies," the State Department said in a statement.

Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions last year. Along with fellow signatories Russia and China, the EU maintains that Iran has not broken its side of the deal and should be allowed to trade.

EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini welcomed the registration of the SPV. 

"The lifting of sanctions is an essential dimension of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the Iran nuclear deal. The instrument launched today will provide economic operators with the necessary framework to pursue legitimate trade with Iran," said a statement from Mogherini's office. 

Read more: US policy spreads gloom in Iran

EU-Iran relations tested: Although Europe has been willing to show good faith since the US left the nuclear deal, relations with Tehran have recently worsened. The EU imposed sanctions this month over Iran's missile tests and alleged assassination plots on European soil.

 

av, cw, rs/ng (Reuters, dpa, AFP)

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