President Trump said Sunday that the U.S. will “absolutely” sanction European companies that do business with Iran.
Trump said on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that European companies will face consequences as a result of the U.S. withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.
“Yes, of course. That’s what we’re doing. Absolutely,” the president responded when asked if the U.S. would sanction European companies that do business with Iran.
Trump announced earlier this year that he would pull the U.S. out of the pact, which offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program. The White House has said the U.S. will put those sanctions back into place.
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As a result of those sanctions, companies that do business with Iran could face penalties from the U.S. It was previously unclear if the U.S. would penalize European nations that chose to remain in the Obama-era agreement.
In May, national security adviser John Bolton said “it’s possible” the U.S. would consider imposing sanctions on European nations that continue to honor the deal.
“It depends on the conduct of other governments,” Bolton said.
Trump’s comments on Sunday mark an escalation of his already controversial trade policies toward the United States’s European allies.
The president has attracted widespread criticism from Republicans, Democrats and international leaders over his decision to enact steep tariffs on imports of steel, aluminum and other products from the European Union, Canada, Mexico and other countries.
The Trump administration’s policy has prompted other nations to implement retaliatory tariffs, raising concerns of a global trade war.