Germany, France and Britain have officially set up a European mechanism to facilitate non-dollar trade with Iran and circumvent US sanctions, two diplomats said on Thursday.
The EU has been preparing the system, in effect a clearing house that avoids monetary transfers in dollars between the EU and Iran for months although it is unlikely to become operational for several months due to technical details.
German broadcaster NDR reported that the European Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would be named INSTEX-Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges.
The idea is for the SPV to help preserve the economic benefits for Iran derived from the curbs it placed on its nuclear programme under a 2015 deal with world powers.
Europe has been keen to show good faith towards Iran since US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal last year.
The entity is not likely to revive trade with Iran to begin with as its focus will primarily be food, medicine and humanitarian, with transactions small. It will not be used for oil-related transactions that have been hit hard by U.S. sanctions.
"It won't change things dramatically, but it's an important political message to Iran to show that we are determined to save the JCPOA and also the United States to show we defend our interests despite their extraterritorial sanctions," one European diplomat said.
However, relations between Tehran and the EU have worsened, and the EU this month imposed its first sanctions on Iran since the 2015 deal in reaction to Iran's ballistic missile tests and assassination plots on European soil.
In a symbolic move, the EU added two Iranian individuals and an Iranian intelligence unit to the bloc's terrorist list.
EU member states are also finalising a joint statement on Iran to outline concerns about Tehran's regional policies and ballistic missile programme, but also to show their desire to maintain the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
France and Germany had taken joint responsibility for the SPV. A German banker would head up the vehicle, which would be based in France. France, Britain and Germany will be shareholders and they hope other states will join.
Europe launches sanctions-busting Iran payment vehicle
Europe launches sanctions-busting Iran payment vehicle
- The entity will allow Iran to trade with EU companies despite Washington reimposing sanctions
- Washington has warned the EU against trying to sidestep its sanctions on Tehran
RSF-encircled city in Sudan’s Kordofan targeted by drones: witness, military source
- The drone strikes hit a military base, a police headquarters, and the regional parliament
- A military source said the army’s air defenses had intercepted 20 aerial targets
PORT SUDAN: The city of El-Obeid in Sudan’s Kordofan region, largely encircled by paramilitary forces, was targeted by a drone attack on Friday that hit multiple government-linked facilities, several witnesses told AFP.
The drone strikes, which began early in the morning and lasted two hours, hit a military base, a police headquarters, the regional parliament and the premises of a telecoms company, witnesses said.
A military source told AFP that the army’s air defenses had intercepted 20 aerial targets.
Since April 2023, Sudan’s army has been waging a war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions more and created a grinding humanitarian crisis.
El-Obeid, located about 350 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Khartoum, remains under army control after it managed to loosen a lengthy RSF siege last February.
The paramilitary force, however, has redoubled its efforts to take the city after forcing the army out of neighboring Darfur last year, cutting off most access routes in and out.
El-Obeid lies along a strategic route linking Darfur and Khartoum.
More than 88,000 have fled the Kordofan region since October.
