Praise from the US Ambassador in Berlin for German Traders' Compliance with Sanctions Against Iran

Richard Grenell, the US Ambassador in Berlin, praised German traders and financial institutions for their compliance with Washington's sanctions against Iran in an interview with the German news agency. On December 1, Grenell stated, "We are very pleased to see that professionals in Germany have decided to comply with US sanctions [against Iran]." He added, "German business leaders have unanimously told us that they will cease trade with Iran and will follow US sanctions. Therefore, we are very happy that the actions of the German financial and economic community are so clear and evident." According to the German news agency, Grenell also warned those German traders and companies that are still doing business with Iran that they are indirectly helping to "raise funds for terrorist activities." In Grenell's view, trading with Iran means giving money to that country's government: "If you trade with Iran, you are giving money to its government, a government that spends a huge amount on terrorist activities." Earlier, on November 19, Brian Hook, the US Special Representative for Iran, stated that when foreign companies trade with the Iranian government, they are "likely financing terrorism; perhaps even terrorism on their own soil." Tehran, which the US government has long called the "most significant state sponsor of terrorism," has denied supporting terrorism. Iranian officials also describe some of the US's key allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia, as the creators and supporters of terrorist groups. After Donald Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA, the US reinstated sanctions against Iran in two rounds. The latest round of sanctions is harsher than the previous ones and is aimed at targeting Iran's oil exports. Trump administration officials claim they intend to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. Officials from Hassan Rouhani's government assert that such a thing is not feasible and that oil sales will never reach zero. Richard Grenell, the US Ambassador in Berlin, is among the active figures in enforcing his country's sanctions through a European country and has spoken on various occasions regarding sanctions against Iran; for example, in August, he welcomed the cessation of German-Iranian trade cooperation in line with the enforcement of sanctions and pressuring Iran; in September, he stated that Volkswagen was set to halt most of its business relations with Iran; and his efforts to prevent Iran from withdrawing money from a German bank, which Tehran ultimately abandoned. Germany was one of the countries involved in negotiations with Iran during the nuclear talks under President Barack Obama. Berlin, alongside Paris, London, and the European Union, expressed regret over Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement and stated that as long as Iran remains in it, they will adhere to its implementation. However, regarding the status of financial transactions and trade, various doubts have been raised while the US has a dominant position globally in these matters.