The EU has approved Monday one of the toughest sets of sanctions yet on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program which barred the import of Iranian natural gas into union nations.
The EU has approved Monday one of the toughest sets of sanctions yet on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program which barred the import of Iranian natural gas into union nations.
The sanctions also included a ban on financial transactions between European and Iranian banks, with some exceptions for those involving humanitarian aid, food and medicine purchases.
Further export restrictions were imposed on industrial software, graphite, and the metals which the EU believes could be used to develop ballistic missiles. The new restrictions also prohibit eurozone companies from providing shipbuilding technology and classification services to Iranian tankers and cargo vessels.
The statement released by the EU council said that ministers remained “determined to increase, in close coordination with international partners, pressure on Iran.”
Washington welcomed the accord as further strengthening "international efforts to pressure and isolate the Iranian government.
Also on Monday, leading European satellite provider Eutelsat SA took 19 Iranian television and radio broadcasters off the air, in a move to abide by earlier EU sanctions. The decision prompted accusations of censorship and threats of lawsuits from Iranian state television.
“We terminated the contracts because it was the order of the European Commission. We have to follow it,” Karen Badalov, area manager of Eutelsat SA, told Press TV.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents global powers in talks with Iran on its nuclear program, said the sanctions aimed "to persuade Iran to come to the table".
Previous sanctions, in particular a biting oil embargo that came into effect in July, are "quite clearly having an effect," she told reporters.
The fresh sanctions come despite the Islamic Republic's recent statement that it is ready to show flexibility and resume negotiations on halting higher-grade uranium enrichment if its conditions are met.
