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Trump warns Europeans not to try to evade Iran sanctions

In this Oct. 2, 2018, file photo, an exchange shop displays rates for various currencies, in downtown Tehran, Iran. The Trump administration is closely eyeing efforts in Europe to set up an alternative money payment channel to ease doing business with Iran and avoid running afoul of sanctions the U.S. has levied on the Islamic republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
In this Oct. 2, 2018, file photo, an exchange shop displays rates for various currencies, in downtown Tehran, Iran. The Trump administration is closely eyeing efforts in Europe to set up an alternative money payment channel to ease doing business with Iran and avoid running afoul of sanctions the U.S. has levied on the Islamic republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) In this Oct. 2, 2018, file photo, an exchange shop displays rates for various currencies, in downtown Tehran, Iran. The Trump administration is closely eyeing efforts in Europe to set up an alternative money payment channel to ease doing business with Iran and avoid running afoul of sanctions the U.S. has levied on the Islamic republic. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

By Associated Press 5 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is closely eyeing efforts in Europe to set up an alternative money payment channel to ease doing business with Iran and avoid running afoul of sanctions the U.S. has levied on the Islamic republic.

The White House is putting the Europeans on notice, saying that if they try to do an end-run around U.S. sanctions on Iran, they will be subject to stiff fines and penalties. Unfazed, the European Union is marching forward with the plan, which, if implemented, could further strain trans-Atlantic relations.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Monday that the EU was on the verge of setting up the alternative channel to send money to Iran that would side-step U.S. sanctions on Tehran. He said Germany had been working on it in recent months with Britain, France and other EU partners.

“This has always been our goal and we will implement it,” Maas said.

The EU has struggled to keep alive the Iran nuclear deal since President Donald Trump pulled out of it last year. The bloc has already introduced measures to stop European companies from complying with the U.S. sanctions without authorization from Brussels.