Sputnik - Earlier, a number of EU countries released a joint statement pointing out their determination to continue working in collaboration with Russia, China and other states to effectively maintain financial contacts with Iran, irrespective of US-imposed limitations.




A response to�US-initiated unilateral sanctions should consist of�measures to�make the euro stronger when it comes to�international transactions, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told journalists on�Monday.
�It is critical to�strengthen the euro in�the world arena. Decisions announced by�France, Germany and Great Britain in�response to�the US unilateral limitations are a way to�assert that we strive to�strengthen our unified shared currency, want to�be sovereign and free,� Le Maire said in�Brussels, adding that in�the long run, �we want to�make the euro one of�the underpinning, supportive international currencies.�


�To this end, more solidarity and a greater amount of�investments are needed in�Europe,� he concluded.

The EU, namely France, Germany and the UK made a joint statement Friday, whereby they confirmed that they would continue working with�Russia, China and other states to�sustain effective financial ties with�Iran, despite�US sanctions.

The embargo on�business ties with�Iran dates back to�May 8 of�this year, when the US pulled out�from the landmark Iranian nuclear deal, also known as�the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA), and re-imposed sanctions against�Tehran and any country doing business with�Iranian companies, with�few exceptions.

The first round�of US-initiated economic limitations became effective in�August, whereas a greater list of�sanctions targeting Iran�s oil and banking sectors, among�others, took effect on�November 5. The US granted�waivers�to�China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.