Iran has historically maintained strong trade relations with Europe. Although Iranian companies are generally regarded as reliable payers, commercial disputes concerning debt recovery in trade between Europe and Iran do occur. It should also be noted that the reintroduction of economic sanctions against Iran by the United States of America – although not by the European Union – has led to new disputes between Iranian operators and those Europeans companies which, being linked to the US financial or economic system, have had to abandon the local market, leaving substantial uncollected debts.