Iran Calls New Sanctions from the European Union 'Against Good Faith'

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry described the renewed sanctions on Bank Tejarat and several Iranian companies by the European Union as 'political,' 'against good faith,' 'questionable,' and 'an unconventional insistence on unprincipled positions.' According to the state news agency IRNA, Marzieh Afkham, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Thursday, April 20, referred to the EU's action as 'unconstructive' in the 'new atmosphere affected' by the recent Lausanne negotiations, while Iran and the P5+1 group are trying to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement. The European Union announced last Wednesday that it had once again imposed sanctions on Bank Tejarat and 32 Iranian shipping companies. This comes after a European court had lifted sanctions imposed by the 28 EU member states against Bank Tejarat and entities associated with the Iranian shipping company on Thursday, January 22, 2015. The European court had also ruled in September 2013 to lift sanctions against the Islamic Republic's shipping company and 17 of its affiliated companies. Afkham further expressed her regret over what she termed the EU's 'indifference' to the decisions of European courts, adding that 'such decisions do not help the ongoing dialogue and reduce trust.' Meanwhile, the CEO of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines stated that the company would not take legal action regarding the EU's recent move. According to Tasnim news agency, Mohammad Hossein Dajmar emphasized, 'We need to see what actions politicians will take in the remaining three months regarding the nuclear agreement.' He added, 'Naturally, with an agreement and the possible lifting of the Security Council resolution, the issue of shipping sanctions will also be subject to these matters.' Based on the agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries in Lausanne, the European Union will end economic and financial sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program, and the United States will also halt the implementation of secondary financial and economic sanctions related to the nuclear issue, simultaneously with the implementation of Iran's major nuclear commitments, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has emphasized that if Tehran does not act according to the understanding, the sanctions will be reimposed. Meanwhile, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the United States is obligated to lift sanctions against Iran following the UN Security Council resolution.