World should unite against US abuse of financial system

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was happy on Wednesday to reach a deal with US President Donald Trump to put on hold their escalating tariff wars. Missing was a reiteration that Europe will not succumb to the US threat of an oil embargo on Iran or opposition to the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran that was lifted after the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Instead, Juncker, both at the Rose Garden and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, sent a confusing signal by talking about more energy cooperation with the United States.

This was in sharp contrast to his strong message earlier that the European Union will launch the process of activating a law that bans European companies and courts from complying with US sanctions against Iran after Trump withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal in May. Juncker vowed at the time that his commission has a "duty to protect European companies" from US sanctions.