A US envoy for Iran, Brian Hood said that the decision taken by the European Union to give $20.7 million in aid to Tehran ‘sent the wrong message at the wrong time’ and urged Brussels to join hands with Washington to end the threat on global stability by the Islamic Republic, Reuters reported.
“Foreign aid from European taxpayers perpetuates the regime’s ability to neglect the needs of its people and stifles meaningful policy changes,” he stated.
“The Iranian people face very real economic pressures caused by their government’s corruption, mismanagement, and deep investment in terrorism and foreign conflicts. The United States and the European Union should be working together instead to find lasting solutions that truly support Iran’s people and end the regime’s threats to regional and global stability,” he stated.
Earlier on Thursday, the union had decided to aid Iran in a bid to decrease the impact of sanctions and save whats left of the 2015 nuclear arms limitation agreement. Iran has threatened to disregard the agreement if the sanctions are not lifted. On the other hand, the U.S is looking for compliance of sanctions from other countries.
“More money in the hands of the ayatollah means more money to conduct assassinations in those very European countries,” Hook said.
John Bolton, the US National Security Advisor had told Reuters during a visit to Israel that the return of U.S sanctions was strongly affecting the Iranian economy and opinion.
The sanctions have targeted the car industry, trade in gold and other precious metals, and purchases of U.S. dollar which are mandatory for investment and international financing. Other sanctions which will be imposed in November are on the banking sector and oil exports.
