Nestlé sees no direct fallout from renewed U.S. sanctions on Iran, the world's biggest food company said on Tuesday.
"We continue to closely follow political developments regarding sanctions against Iran. There are no direct implications for our business at this stage," it said in response to a query.
Nestlé Iran has its headquarters in Tehran and two factories: one in Qazvin that produces infant cereals and infant formula, and a bottled water factory in Polour. The company has 818 employees and imports a limited range of Nestlé products from abroad, it said.
"By providing basic food products to Iranian consumers, we will continue to fulfil the needs of the population," it added.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump described via Twitter the measures set against Iran as "the most biting sanctions ever imposed" and warned that "anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States".
The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level. Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2018
On Monday, the EU issued a statement saying that it was issuing a Blocking Statute to enable European nations and businesses to continue to trade with Iran.
'The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions is an essential part of the deal – it aims at having a positive impact not only on trade and economic relations with Iran, but most importantly on the lives of the Iranian people,' it said in a statement.
'We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN Security Council resolution 2231. This is why the European Union’s updated Blocking Statute enters into force on 7 August to protect EU companies doing legitimate business with Iran from the impact of US extra-territorial sanctions.'
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Additional reporting by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.