EU’s aid to Iran shows US alone in opposing deal: China Daily editorial

The European Union’s decision to give Iran more than 18 million euros ($20.6 million) in development aid to counter the effects of US sanctions is a courageous as well as welcome move.

It is also a sign of how the US hard-line policy toward Iran and its unilateral scrapping of the multilateral Iranian nuclear deal are perceived as perverse mistakes by the rest of the international community.

The aid package, which was revealed on Thursday, focuses on sustainable economic and social development, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises, environmental projects and those countering the harm of drugs. It is the EU’s latest attempt to uphold the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal.

Obviously, the EU move has come at a critical moment as the United States has just revived its first round of sanctions against Iran. As one of the signatories to the deal, the EU has adamantly opposed the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the US from the deal and efforts to tear it apart. China, which is also a signatory to the deal, has also denounced the US decision and opposes Washington's unilateral sanctions.

Thursday’s move is clear evidence that the EU has no intention of backing away from the deal on Iran and its divide with the US on the issue is only getting wider. This may be bad news for Washington but contributes to international efforts to bolster the Iranian nuclear deal.

US President Donald Trump’s self-serving action against Iran has worsened the security outlook of the Middle East and disrupted normal business interactions between Iran and other countries.

The Trump administration has no right to force others to dance to its tune. Countries have a legitimate right to conduct normal economic relations with Iran.

Teheran's legal challenge against the renewed sanctions by the US goes before the UN's top court on Monday. It argues that the US has no right to reinstate the sanctions and it is calling on the International Court of Justice to "immediately suspend" them. The ICJ is expected to take a couple of months to announce a provisional ruling.

In the meantime, what the EU is doing in opposing the US’ Iran policy should reinforce the international community’s confidence in the legitimacy and righteousness of the Iran nuclear deal.