The Trump administration has said more than 50 international companies have indicated they will withdraw from Iran, as Washington attempts to maximise global pressure on Tehran.
Groups such as Total, Peugeot and Siemens have announced they will halt dealings with Iran for fear of the impact of US sanctions— even though their home countries back their continued operations.
“We have been clear with countries and companies around the world that we are bringing severe economic pressure on Iran until the regime changes its destabilising policies,” Brian Hook, a state department official leading the push to isolate Iran, told reporters on Monday. He said that many of the companies pulling out of Iran were in the energy and financial sectors.