EU imposes fresh sanctions on Iran
Source: Agencies |
October 16, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE European Union, concerned by what it called Iran's refusal to come clean on its nuclear program, imposed a new range of sanctions yesterday intended to hit the country's treasury and increase pressure on its government.
A leading European satellite provider, meanwhile, took 19 Iranian television and radio broadcasters off the air yesterday - a cutoff due to earlier sanctions. The move prompted accusations of censorship and threats to sue from Iranian state television.
Foreign ministers from the 27 EU member countries, meeting in Luxembourg, said Iran was "acting in flagrant violation of its international obligations" and was still refusing to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency to address international concerns.
A statement by the EU foreign ministers said they had approved "additional restrictive measures in the financial, trade, energy and transport sectors" against Iran as well as imposing asset freezes and trade restrictions on more companies, notably those "active in the oil and gas industry."
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the ministers had banned the import of Iranian natural gas into EU nations.
The EU ministers also agreed to prohibit all transactions between EU and Iranian banks unless they were authorized in advance for humanitarian reasons and tightened restrictions on the Central Bank of Iran, the statement said.
They also imposed more export restrictions "notably for graphite, metals and software for industrial purposes."
A leading European satellite provider, meanwhile, took 19 Iranian television and radio broadcasters off the air yesterday - a cutoff due to earlier sanctions. The move prompted accusations of censorship and threats to sue from Iranian state television.
Foreign ministers from the 27 EU member countries, meeting in Luxembourg, said Iran was "acting in flagrant violation of its international obligations" and was still refusing to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency to address international concerns.
A statement by the EU foreign ministers said they had approved "additional restrictive measures in the financial, trade, energy and transport sectors" against Iran as well as imposing asset freezes and trade restrictions on more companies, notably those "active in the oil and gas industry."
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the ministers had banned the import of Iranian natural gas into EU nations.
The EU ministers also agreed to prohibit all transactions between EU and Iranian banks unless they were authorized in advance for humanitarian reasons and tightened restrictions on the Central Bank of Iran, the statement said.
They also imposed more export restrictions "notably for graphite, metals and software for industrial purposes."
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