UANI Statement in Response to German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’ Proposal Regarding Business with Iran

New York, NY – United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) President David Ibsen issued the following statement regarding German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’ proposal to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Iran:

“German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’ call for the EU to set up payment channels independent of the U.S., a European monetary fund and an independent payments system, in order to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Iran, is unserious and reckless. He was rightfully rebuked for his uninformed and irresponsible remarks by Chancellor Angela Merkel, who clarified that Maas’ self-promotional statements do not represent government policy.

“Contrary to the stated pursuit outlined in his op-ed, a payment system that is exclusionary of the U.S. would not be a ‘balanced partnership,’ rather it would be a resentful act of European unilateralism. Furthermore, European diplomatic and financial support of a pathologically anti-U.S. terror state dedicated to the destruction of America is quite simply not the action of a friend, ally, or partner.

“The Iranian regime is an illiberal theocratic dictatorship that terrorizes the region and its own people. The U.S. is rightfully opposed to it. If Maas is truly committed to ‘the rule of law,’ ‘respect for the weaker,’ and ‘balanced partnerships,’ then he should be as well.”