Reuters: European Union ambassadors agreed on Monday to impose an embargo on crude oil imports from Iran, to be phased in by July 1. |EU foreign ministers are expected to approve the measure later in the day.
FACTBOX-EU sanctions against Iran
U.K., EU lobby to protect gas project from Iran sanctions
Wall Street Journal: As Western governments push ahead with unprecedented sanctions on Iran, U.K. and European Union officials have lobbied U.S. lawmakers in recent weeks to ensure that any new Iran sanctions exempt a key BP PLC-led natural-gas project in Azerbaijan.
Report: 17 die when boat capsizes in Iran
AP: Seventeen people have died after a storm capsized a passenger boat off of Iran’s southern coast, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.
Iran rejects as ‘baseless’ Sarkozy nuclear claims
AFP: Claims by French President Nicolas Sarkozy that Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon are “baseless and far from reality,” Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesman said on Saturday.
China tells Iranian delegation to return to talks
Reuters: China told a visiting Iranian delegation that returning to nuclear talks was a “top priority,” the Xinhua news agency said on Saturday, in a meeting highlighting Beijing’s efforts to reduce tensions that could threaten its oil supply.
China leader warns Iran not to make nuclear arms
New York Times: Prime Minister Wen Jiabao wrapped up a six-day Middle East tour this week with stronger-than-usual criticism of Iran’s defiance on its nuclear program, and with multibillion-dollar oil deals that would seem to signal less reliance on Tehran for China’s growing energy needs.
U.S. lawmakers moving to tighten screws on Iran
Reuters: The U.S. Senate is looking to strengthen the economic chokehold on Iran with even stricter measures to cripple Tehran’s oil revenues and possibly its shipping in legislation that is expected in the coming weeks.
Report: Iranian currency drops 11 percent, hitting new record low against dollar
AP: Iran’s national currency fell by 11 percent Saturday amid the government’s refusal to sign off on a move to raise bank interest rates, state news agencies reported.
Intervention in Iran ‘would trigger war’: Sarkozy
AFP: French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Friday that any foreign military intervention against Iran’s nuclear programme would trigger “war and chaos” across the Middle East and beyond.
IAEA rejects Iran accusation over scientist’s killing
Reuters: The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday it did not know an Iranian scientist who was killed last week, rejecting Tehran’s suggestions it may have been partly to blame for his death by leaking information about him.
