Europe fails to agree on Iran oil embargo
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EU foreign ministers failed yesterday to reach an agreement to impose an oil embargo against Iran - a measure that some argued would have choked off funding for Iran's alleged program to develop nuclear weapons.
But the ministers, incensed by the attack on Tuesday by an angry mob on the British embassy in Tehran, did impose a new round of sanctions targeting dozens of people, groups and businesses in the country.
The ministers also imposed new sanctions on Syrian individuals and businesses in the hope of pressuring the government there to halt its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the two issues were related, accusing Iran of supporting the violence in Syria. The UN estimates President Bashar Assad's government has killed at least 4,000 people over the past few months.
"There is a link between what is happening in Iran and what is happening in Syria," Hague said.
In Iran, sanctions were imposed on 37 people and 143 "entities" - companies or organizations. These sanctions include a freeze on assets held in the EU and a ban on traveling to its member states.
The full list of names will not be known until they are published today.
But the official conclusions of the meeting said that they include the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line and members of - and entities controlled by - the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that Greece, which relies on Iranian oil, had objected to a ban on buying it. But he said work toward an embargo would continue.
"We have to see with our partners that the cuts can be compensated by the increase of production in other countries," said Juppe. "It is very possible."
Iran has denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons. The attack on the British embassy is believed to have begun as a protest over Western sanctions linked to the country's nuclear program.
Britain pulled its diplomats out of Iran after the attack. Germany, France and the Netherlands have recalled their ambassadors in solidarity.
With regards to Syria, the EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions on 12 people and 11 entities, adding to the list of those previously sanctioned.
Foreign ministers said the crackdown "risks taking Syria down a very dangerous path of violence, sectarian clashes and militarization."
But the ministers, incensed by the attack on Tuesday by an angry mob on the British embassy in Tehran, did impose a new round of sanctions targeting dozens of people, groups and businesses in the country.
The ministers also imposed new sanctions on Syrian individuals and businesses in the hope of pressuring the government there to halt its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the two issues were related, accusing Iran of supporting the violence in Syria. The UN estimates President Bashar Assad's government has killed at least 4,000 people over the past few months.
"There is a link between what is happening in Iran and what is happening in Syria," Hague said.
In Iran, sanctions were imposed on 37 people and 143 "entities" - companies or organizations. These sanctions include a freeze on assets held in the EU and a ban on traveling to its member states.
The full list of names will not be known until they are published today.
But the official conclusions of the meeting said that they include the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line and members of - and entities controlled by - the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that Greece, which relies on Iranian oil, had objected to a ban on buying it. But he said work toward an embargo would continue.
"We have to see with our partners that the cuts can be compensated by the increase of production in other countries," said Juppe. "It is very possible."
Iran has denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons. The attack on the British embassy is believed to have begun as a protest over Western sanctions linked to the country's nuclear program.
Britain pulled its diplomats out of Iran after the attack. Germany, France and the Netherlands have recalled their ambassadors in solidarity.
With regards to Syria, the EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions on 12 people and 11 entities, adding to the list of those previously sanctioned.
Foreign ministers said the crackdown "risks taking Syria down a very dangerous path of violence, sectarian clashes and militarization."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
