Europe needs to take confidence-building measures if it really wants to help save the 2015 nuclear deal and for this purpose it would be a step forward if Germany facilitates the transfer of funds requested by Iran, says a lawmaker.
“Confidence-building steps are needed for the progress of talks with Europe over the JCPOA, and transferring $350 million of our assets to Tehran could be one of them,” Asghar Salimi told ICANA in an interview published Friday, using the abbreviation for the nuclear agreement -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
German authorities are considering a request by Tehran to withdraw €300 million ($350 million) from the Europaeisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (eihbank) before fresh US sanctions against its financial sector take effect, the Bild newspaper reported earlier this month, citing unnamed government officials.
Litmus Test
Salimi criticized Washington’s desperate efforts to block the transfer, saying that the government in Berlin is facing a litmus test.
“The Europeans have frequently talked about continuation of normal trade and economic ties with Iran so the onus is now on Germany to help fulfill this pledge.”
On July 10, the US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, urged Berlin to stop Iran from withdrawing the money, which it says is needed “to pass on to Iranian citizens who require cash while travelling abroad, given their inability to access recognized credit cards.”
“We encourage the highest levels of the German government to intervene and stop the plan,” Grenell, a longtime critic of the nuclear agreement, told the Bild.
Grenell’s comment drew a rebuke from Johann Wadephul, deputy leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives in parliament, who said the transaction should not be blocked on political grounds if it passed legal muster.
“The statement of the US ambassador is once again unsettling and difficult to reconcile with his diplomatic role,” Wadephul told Reuters.
Confidence in Europe
Salimi maintains that Iran will lose its confidence in Europe if Germany fails to comply with the request for its own money, which would in turn undermine prospects of investments in both countries.
He urged European powers not to be influenced by the psychological campaign unleashed by the controversial and mercurial President Donald Trump who has done little to conceal his aversion for Europe and its policies in almost all domains.
“If Germany cooperates with Iran in a positive manner, it can be said that Europe is serious in carrying out its promises.”
No Legal Obstacle
Shahrooz Barzegar, another lawmaker, called on Germany to resist US pressure and adopt a clear, unambiguous and independent stance, noting that there is no legal obstacle to Iran withdrawing the cash.
“There is no excuse for not transferring over $350 million of our assets from Berlin to Iran because there is currently no sanctions applicable in this regard,” Barzegar, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said in remarks published by ICANA on Saturday.
Caution Against Misstep
Europe’s failure to stand up to Washington’s bullying would be a sign of its weakness and lack of political will, he said, adding that a wrong move or misstep by Germany could hurt the international community’s confidence in keeping their money in German banks.
“In the latest meeting on the JCPOA, the Europeans emphasized that financial channels for interaction with Iran should be preserved and remain open. If Germany shows inaction regarding the transfer of the funds, it would mean that the three [European] parties to the JCPOA are not committed to fulfilling their obligations.”
Barzegar was referring to high-level talks attended by the foreign ministers from Iran, Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain in Vienna last Friday in which they affirmed their commitment to accomplish a specific goals, including maintaining and promoting economic relations with Iran along with financial channels.
