LONDON — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said foreign companies shouldn’t use the United States’ economic sanctions against Iran as an excuse not to do business with the country.
Kerry spoke to a group of American reporters during a visit to London on Monday, saying foreign firms are sometimes using the U.S. as a scapegoat when avoiding Tehran, according to reports by Associated Press and Reuters.
“Businesses should not use the United States as an excuse if they don’t want to do business, or if they don’t see a good business deal … that’s just not fair, that’s not accurate,” Reuters quoted Kerry as saying. “We sometimes get used as an excuse in the process.”
The AP also reported that Kerry encouraged European banks to re-engage with Iran, as the Obama administration’s nuclear deal makes the country open for business for the most part, except with specific entities like Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The U.S. secretary of state said banks can open accounts for Iran, lend money, and facilitate legitimate transactions, according to the reports.
His remarks come just a few hours ahead of a meeting POLITICO reported is due to take place between Kerry and the representatives of nine major European banks, including Barclays, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, and Standard Chartered.You know that line "never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity"?
Doesn't apply to Kerry.
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