Tehran warns EU sanctions are ‘illegal’

LONDON, Sept 15 (AFP): Iran has warned the European Union that its decision to maintain sanctions on the Islamic republic beyond a deadline set in a landmark nuclear deal was "illegal".
Britain, France, and Germany said that "EU and UK sanctions will be maintained," according to a statement from the British foreign ministry released on Thursday.
The series of British, EU and US sanctions "on individuals and entities involved in Iran's missile, nuclear, and other weapons programmes" were supposed to be lifted on October 18, the ministry said.
The deal agreed with world powers in 2015 was aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
But the accord began unravelling in 2018 when then US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it and began reimposing sanctions and Iran retaliated by dropping some of its obligations under the agreement.
Iran's foreign ministry said it considers "the decision of the EU and three European countries as an illegal act with malicious intentions, and contrary to their obligations under the nuclear agreement".