Sputnik: What is your take on the proposition put forward by the US Senators on this one?
Christopher Bovis: They maximized pressure. They maximized diplomatic pressure. They maximized legislative pressure on the United States administration to exercise the aftermath of President Trump's decision to revoke the deal that the previous administration signed vis-à-vis Iran international obligations. And also they created this artificial war, economic war, vis-à-vis the European Union in order to achieve their diplomatic results.
READ MORE: 'Independent SWIFT' Issue Amid US Sanctions Shows EU Colossus With Feet of Clay
Sputnik: Do you think it's likely that it will be implemented because it is rather archaic isn't it?
Christopher Bovis: Most likely it will be implemented. The administration and President Trump insisted that they would see the withdrawal from the pact to the end and therefore they used every possible financial, diplomacy route including this one, which is based on the utilities of the financial transactions of banks in order to achieve their objectives.
Sputnik: How can this development further strain relations between Iran and the US? It's only going to deteriorate things even worse, isn't it?
Christopher Bovis: Absolutely, it will deteriorate things for the worse. Or it could also deteriorate the relationship between the European Union, the countries of the European Union, and the United States administration. It's a full-blown economic war that will take on not only the sanctions, diplomatic or economic sanctions but it will move into financial hostilities between the two continents.
READ MORE: Sanctions are Wrong Tool if You Want to Change Policy of Another Country — Prof
Sputnik: According to reports, Germany has been developing an alternative to the SWIFT payment system. Is it likely that this could be used by Iran to avoid US restrictions? Is there a way around restrictions using this potential new system?
Christopher Bovis: Of course, that is widely reported and this is what is happening at the moment. The European Commission has been developing a system, a parallel system to SWIFT which will allow Iran to interface with European financial systems, European clearing systems, using the nominations supported and created by the European Investment Bank based on the euro. In addition to that, there is a big opportunity to use that double, that parallel financial system in order to create a competitive advantage for Europe, for the European Union vis-à-vis other parts of the world for enhancing clearance and enhancing financial transactions alongside with the previous deals we have happening via SWIFT.
READ MORE: EU Sees Idea to Create 'Independent SWIFT' to Secure Iran Deal — Source
Sputnik: Despite anti-Iran sanctions many European companies have been seeking alternative routes to doing business with Iran. What consequences can this have on the bloc's ties with Washington? You've alluded to this already but it just seems that there are many companies throughout the European Union and the world that want continue trading with Iran. What consequences will this actually lead to?
Christopher Bovis: It will be full-blown economic and financial war between the two continents and it will come to a point that some actions, some activities that are already happening they need to be renegotiated through other international treaties or through the World Trade Organization or through the United Nations. At the moment, we are head-on on a collision course between the two continents, between the two economic systems. And the utilization of the financial regulatory environment including SWIFT, including payment and clearing system it's used in order to promote the economic and diplomacy goals of the United States. And Europe, the European Union is responding quite successfully, quite adequately on every threat that has been posed against the United States.
The views and opinions expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.
