The United States does not aim to impede European trade and business transactions with Iran despite President Donald Trump’s decision last week to decertify the 2015 nuclear agreement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the Wall Street Journal. European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday highlighted the need to protect their companies and investors dealing with Iran from any adverse effects should Washington reinstate sanctions against Iran, officials said. “The president’s been pretty clear that it’s not his intent to interfere with business deals that the Europeans may have under way with Iran,” Tillerson told the Journal in an interview Thursday. Tillerson’s comments appeared aimed at reassuring the Europeans that Washington is not trying to pressure them into avoiding business with Iran. Boeing, which was the first major US company to announce a major business venture with Iran, last year agreed to sell dozens of commercial planes to Tehran.

Source: Egypt Independent October 20, 2017 12:45 UTC