Iran Press/Europe: The co-chair of Iran-Germany Chamber of Commerce Michael Tockuss described trade ties between Iran and Germany as long-lasting saying US threats cannot affect two countries’ ties.
"On the one hand we have the public reaction from public media which of course orchestrate this threat from the United States and on the other hand we have the long-lasting trade relationship between many medium-sized German companies and Iran,” Tockuss told IRNA.
He added: "This volume could increase but therefore we need more support from our government and from the Iranian government."
Elaborating on the impact of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) on Iran-Germany trade, he said: "INSTEX is something that we should not undervalue. INSTEX is a very strong political signal and the fact that the European countries act in clear opposition toward the efforts of the United States is a value itself."
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He went on to say that INSTEX now is a totally new instrument for the European countries and they have to develop it and I know that the key people in INSTEX are working on it but I don’t see that now these efforts of the United States will affect INSTEX because this is not related to it.
"We have a lot of companies that ask for INSTEX and that want to start it immediately, he said, adding that now we are in close contact with the Iranian banks in Hamburg."
"German companies are more than 130 years active in Iran and they will safeguard and survive with the trade with Iran in this critical situation and of course what we have to keep up with Iran this means joint venture and investment of European companies," the German official noted.
On May 8, 2018, Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, which was condemned by other parties to the 2015 agreement.
INSTEX was adopted by foreign ministers of the European trio on the sidelines of a European Union summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest on January 1.
Trump's choice has faced the opposition of the international community; namely Russia, China, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
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For much of the interview, Tockuss referred to US recent decision to end waivers on Iran oil exports, saying: "We see this announcement very critical because it is again the action of the United States which is not coordinated with anyone and which is not backed by any international body."
"The countries that bought Iranian crude oil in the past will now stop to import it because this is not just the question of buying oil, it is a technical question of the refineries adjusted to Iranian oil," he said adding: "They try to put pressure on Iran with the risk that Iran might have to react on this."
He reiterated: "It is not that easy that is shown in the media that simply Saudi Arabia can increase the output but it shows that the United States is bullying against Iran."
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