After Trump's withdrawal from nuclear pact, EU energy chief courts Iran
None
Europe's energy chief will seek to reassure Iran's top ministers on Saturday that the European Union wants to keep trade open despite the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
Miguel Arias Canete, European commissioner for energy and climate, will meet with five top Iranian minister over two days, including the Islamic Republic's nuclear chief, oil minister and foreign minister.
EU leaders have united behind the 2015 accord, with Brussels considering banning EU-based firms from complying with the sanctions that President Donald Trump has reimposed and urging governments to make money transfers to Iran's central bank to avoid fines.
But EU officials admit there is a limit to what they can do to parry sanctions as a wave of European companies quit business with Tehran, fearing the global reach of US sanctions.
"There is no magic wand beyond trying to offer Iran a bit of reassurance," a senior EU official involved in Iran said.
