France slams US move to re-impose sanctions on Iran

Paris, May 11: France has slammed an "unacceptable" the US move to re-impose sanctions on companies trading with Iran following President Donald Trump's decision to dump the landmark 2015 deal that sought to curb Tehran's nuclear programme.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said European companies should not have to pay for the US decision. "We feel that the extraterritoriality of their sanction measures are unacceptable. The Europeans should not have to pay for the withdrawal from an agreement by the US, to which they had themselves contributed."

The commitment of other partners to the Iran deal should be respected, said Le Drian, adding that the effects of the US move were already being felt in rising oil costs and an increase in political uncertainty in the Middle East.

France, Britain and Germany had all said they will work with Iran to try to salvage the agreement.