EU Council Extends Suspension of Anti-Iran Sanctions for 2 Weeks

The Council of the European Union published on Thursday its formal decision to extend the suspension of its sanctions against Iran until January 28.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — A certain number of EU sanctions against Iran were suspended after Tehran and international negotiators reached the Iranian nuclear agreement, or Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) in mid-2015. The sanctions were initially suspended for a six-month period.

"On 14 January 2016, the Council extended until 28 January 2016 the suspension of certain EU restrictive measures against Iran," the EU body said in a statement.

Prolonging the current suspension of certain EU restrictive measures against Iran is due to provide for the continuous preparations for the implementation of the JCPOA, according to the statement.

In July 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group of international mediators, comprising Russia, China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, signed a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program, according to which Iran pledged to guarantee the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions lifting.

In October, the European Council adopted a legal act that would allow the bloc to lift economic and diplomatic sanctions against Iran once the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms that the country has completed its nuclear liabilities.

In December, IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, adopted a final resolution to close an investigation into allegations that Iran was developing nuclear weapon, which means all previous UN Security Council sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program will no longer apply once the JCPOA takes effect.