US backs EU Iran sanctions push, warns firms against Tehran trade
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The United States on Tuesday welcomed a push by some EU states to impose new sanctions on Iran and warned firms considering doing business with the Islamic Republic that they could be funding militant groups and regional instability.
US President Donald Trump has set European allies a May 12 deadline to revamp an international deal agreed with Tehran in 2015 that lifted international sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.
Speaking in London at the start of a tour of European signatories to that deal, Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said sanctions were an important part of a comprehensive effort to counter Iran's "malign activity" in the region.
"We understand that the EU, it's been reported in the press, is considering new Iran-related sanctions. This is a good and important step that we support," she told reporters before meetings with British officials.
