German Transatlantic Coordinator To Raise Issue Of Russia, Iran Sanctions In Talks With US

A German official in charge of transatlantic cooperation said Friday he will seek answers from the United States on its sanctions policy against Russia and Iran that can punish Germany for dealing with them.

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) A German official in charge of transatlantic cooperation said Friday he will seek answers from the United States on its sanctions policy against Russia and Iran that can punish Germany for dealing with them.

Peter Beyer is on his way to the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada where he will hold a series of meetings with US Sen. Mike Rounds, Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan and other dignitaries.

"Europe and America may have similar objectives with regard to Iran and Russia, but our views on how to achieve them differ widely," Beyer said in Berlin before the departure.

He said he saw sanctions on Iran "very critically" after the United States threatened to penalize German firms for doing business with Iran in violation of its newest sanctions on Iran's oil trade, shipping and banking.

Beyer also criticized a provision in the US Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act targeting Nord Stream 2, a Gazprom-led project to sell Russian natural has to Europe.

"While I very much understand the US concerns about Russia, German companies should not be punished for importing natural gas to Germany in full compliance with our laws," he stressed.

The German official added he wanted to bring up other pressing issues at the talks, including the US threat to leave the INF nuclear arms control treaty with Russia and the demand that NATO allies spend more on defense.