EU imposes new sanctions on Iran

Luxembourg, Luxembourg (4E) – The European Union on Monday imposed additional sanctions on Iran aimed at preventing the Islamic country from funding and accessing materials for its nuclear program and from circumventing existing sanctions.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday decided to ban the import of Iranian natural gas; financial transactions between European and Iranian banks; short-term export credits, guarantees and insurance; and export of other materials intended for nuclear and ballistic programs or to industries controlled by the country’s military.

A statement from the Council of the European Union said the new sanctions are meant to persuade Tehran to negotiate seriously on its nuclear program suspected as a front for building a nuclear weapon.

The EU’s initial sanctions against Iran include a ban on the import of its oil starting in July and export to Iran of shipbuilding and oil storage technology. It also froze the assets of 34 Iranian entities and slapped a travel ban on one Iranian involved in the nuclear activities.

---

---