By Serife Cetin and Nilay Kar Onum

BRUSSELS

The EU, Germany, Britain and France said on Friday in a joint statement that they “deeply regret the further re-imposition of sanctions by the United States".

The statement said: “We deeply regret the further re-imposition of sanctions by the United States, due to the latter’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA).”

It came shortly after the U.S. announced it is reimposing all sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear pact world powers struck with Iran.

The new wave of sanctions reimpositions, the second since August, will target Iran's energy, shipbuilding, shipping, and financial sectors.

The statement termed the nuclear pact as “a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture and of multilateral diplomacy, endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council through Resolution 2231".

"It is crucial for the security of Europe, the region, and the entire world,” it said.

The countries aim to "protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN Security Council resolution 2231."

"As parties to the JCPoA, we have committed to work on, inter alia, the preservation and maintenance of effective financial channels with Iran, and the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas."