In its annual report, the FCO recognises that the UK played an instrumental role in ensuring that the EU remained united in upholding sanctions on Russia, in promoting sanctions on ISIS and in negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran. According to the report “while there has been good progress … we have continued to raise serious concerns about Iranian ballistic missile test at UN Security Council,” but the FCO remains “committed to ensuring Iran’s compliance … and upholding our obligations under the agreement.” The report states that the FCO has engaged extensively with British businesses to assist them in exploring new opportunities offered by sanctions relief, including working with the US government to examine concerns from the banking sector over the interaction with US primary sanctions adopted with respect to Iran.
