World Jewish News

New tighter sanctions imposed by the EU on Iran

European Union Foreign Ministers on Monday adopted new tighter sanctions against Iran including measures to target investment in its oil and gas industries, EJP has learned at a meeting in Brussels.
The sanctions, which go beyond measures imposed by the United Nations Security Council on June 6, are aimed at pressuring Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear program.
They include a ban on selling equipment, technology and services to the Iranian energy sector.
They will also further limit the activities of Iranian trading banks and insurers, including restrictions on money transfers to Iran.
The new sanctions will take effect on Tuesday when they are published in the EU's official journal.
Ahead of the ministerial meeting in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told journalists that the purpose of the sanctions was to persuade Iran that "we need to discuss this issue, and move forward."
She exchanged letters with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in a bid to revive talks, and Tehran has indicated that they could resume in September.
The last high-level talks between Iran and the six world powers – Germany, Britain, China, France, Russia and the US – were held in Geneva in October 2009.
Western powers have called on Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program, fearing that Tehran wants to make nuclear weapons.

by: Yossi Lempkowicz

EJP