EU leaders agree to stick to Iran deal, defend European companies dealing with Tehran – Tusk

The EU will stick to the Iran deal and the bloc’s leaders have mandated their Brussels-based executive to defend the interests of European companies dealing with Tehran from US sanctions if needed, Reuters reported Thursday. “On Iran nuclear deal, we agreed unanimously that the EU will stay in the agreement as long as Iran remains fully committed to it,” said the chairman of a two-day EU leaders’ summit in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Donald Tusk. “Additionally, the Commission was given a green light to be ready to act whenever European interests are affected.” The head of the executive European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that the EU was ready to start trade liberalization talks with the United States in some areas if Washington gives permanent exemptions from aluminum and steel tariffs.