Oral Question on US sanctions impacting EU business in Iran

In October 2015, the E3+3 and Iran adopted the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It ensures that Iran's nuclear programme will be purely peaceful, in return for which sanctions would be lifted. Since then, a number of European governments and the European Commission have undertaken missions to Iran. However, even though European sanctions barring trade with Iran have been largely lifted, European companies still find it difficult to access the Iranian market. This is due to the extra-territorial impact of. It should be emphasised that the US is also a signatory to the JCPOA and has committed itself to lift all secondary sanctions relating to Iran's nuclear program. Since many European companies also have business activities in the United States, violating American sanctions can mean being fined or being barred from doing business in the US all together. Especially American financial sanctions are problematic in this respect. A compounding factor is the fact that it is very difficult and complicated for European companies to receive a waiver from the US treasury department, often more difficult than for American companies. US sanctions restrict the EU´s policy space. How does the Commission assess the current situation and what measures have been taken to implement the commitments on sanctions relief made in the JCPOA? What has the Commission done to address the extra-territorial impact of US sanctions with American officials, and what has been the response? Does the Commission see a way forward to make sure that EU companies can do business in line with EU policies, without fear of violating American sanctions and possible fines?