File photo shows offshore installations in South Pars gas field in southern Iran.
The European Union’s top court has struck down sanctions imposed on Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC) for its alleged links to Iranâ„¢s nuclear energy program.
Å“By virtue of the preliminary ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union … EU sanctions on this engineering company [must] be lifted and this union is obligated to pay damages incurred on the company due to the sanctions,” Managing Director of IOEC Ali Taheri Motlaq noted on Sunday.
He said documents submitted to the court proved that IOEC had no activity related to Iranâ„¢s nuclear facilities.
On September 6, the court also rejected sanctions imposed against eight Iranian banks and companies allegedly linked to Iranâ„¢s nuclear program
It ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to justify the unilateral sanctions imposed by the bloc on Iranian entities.
The court, however, said the sanctions would stay in place for at least two months pending any appeal.
Å“The IOEC is a completely technical and engineering company, and has not had, and does not have, any connection to this type of [nuclear] activities,” Taheri Motlaq said.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and European Union using the claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.
Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence showing that Tehran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted toward military objectives.
KA/HGH/SS
Republished from: Press TV