Trump: France and Germany Can Continue Making Money from Iran

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated in a television interview broadcast on Sunday, October 22, that he has no objection to Germany and France continuing their trade with Iran and making money from the country. According to Agence France-Presse, Trump told the Fox News program "Sunday Morning Futures": "I told them to continue making money from Iran. Don’t worry. Just keep making money from Iran." He added: "They are my friends. Really, that’s how it is. I have no problem with them, whether it’s Emmanuel or Angela." Trump's reference is to Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, and Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany. The U.S. President, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which its fate is in the hands of Congress, said: "I really don’t know what will happen in this regard." He noted that when they trade with Iran, it makes things harder. He said: "I told them to continue making money. Don’t worry. We don’t need them." Trump's remarks contrast with statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the same day in Riyadh. Tillerson said the United States is "hopeful" that European companies and countries will "join the U.S., which has created a sanctions structure." He added: "Those who trade with the Revolutionary Guard or any of its subsidiaries—European companies or others around the world—are really at great risk." However, Tillerson had told the Wall Street Journal on Friday that the Trump administration does not intend to obstruct European trade with Iran. European leaders last week reiterated their support for continuing the JCPOA and urged the U.S. Congress to preserve the agreement. Since the implementation of the JCPOA in January 2016, European companies and countries have signed billions of dollars in contracts in the energy, automotive, and commercial aircraft sectors with Iran. European countries, in addition to being concerned about their investments in Iran, also consider the North Korean missile and nuclear crisis and the need to resolve it diplomatically as another reason to maintain the JCPOA, to provide a peaceful model for dealing with this crisis to Pyongyang. The JCPOA, signed in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers, suspended many of Tehran's nuclear activities and, on the other hand, reduced or lifted international sanctions against Iran. However, since Donald Trump took office in January this year, he has taken a hardline stance on this agreement, calling it the "worst deal" he has ever seen. The U.S. government has confirmed Iran's compliance with the JCPOA twice during this period, but on October 13, Trump refused to confirm it for the third time, accusing Tehran of not adhering to the "spirit of the JCPOA." The Trump administration has also sanctioned the Revolutionary Guard due to its so-called "destabilizing" role in the Middle East and military involvement in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In this context, Tillerson called for the withdrawal of Iranian "militias" from Iraq. The U.S. House of Representatives is voting on new non-nuclear sanctions against Iran. Araqchi stated that the U.S. has violated three clauses of the JCPOA. Tillerson reiterated that the Trump administration does not intend to interfere in European trade relations with Iran.