Iran on Friday warned that the Vienna meeting of the remaining signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal represents the last change to save the agreement, which was abandoned by the United States last year. Iran wants Europe to protect it from the impact of US sanctions on the country.
In the midst of mounting US-Iran tensions, Iran warned earlier this week that it will soon exceed the amount of low-enriched uranium it is allowed to store under the agreement. At the talks, the EU will outline plans for the implementation of Instex, a European payment system that will allow for indirect trade between Iranian firms and companies from other countries using a currency other than the dollar as a way of circumventing US sanctions.
Meanwhile, the US increased the pressure on Iran by announcing sanctions on “any imports of Iranian crude oil,” which means that no single country can make use of oil waivers. Brian Hook, the US Special Representative on Iran warned that his government “will sanction any illicit purchases of Iranian crude oil.” The crisis in US-Iran relations has been fueling global worries about a military conflict between the two countries for weeks.
Read more: With Iran nuclear deal on the brink, US vows to choke off Iranian oil sales
