Swedish PM cautions against EU sanctions for Iran

Reuters: Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is set to take over the EU presidency next week, cautioned on Thursday against European sanctions towards Iran, saying they could be counterproductive.

STOCKHOLM, June 25 (Reuters) – Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is set to take over the EU presidency next week, cautioned on Thursday against European sanctions towards Iran, saying they could be counterproductive.

"My worry is that talk of sanctions, talk of a tougher line might just be the start of an excuse for the Iranian leadership not to listen in to what is now being said by the Iranian people," Reinfeldt said in a Reuters interview.

Asked whether sanctions should be considered now, Reinfeldt said: "I don't think so, but we need to follow what is happening."

About 20 people have been reported killed and hundreds detained by police in demonstrations sparked by results of the June 12 election that gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a landslide victory.

Iranian officials have claimed pro-opposition demonstrators have been backed by the West, focusing its criticism on the United States and EU-member Britain.

"I think it is quite clear that the call is for freedom and reforms in Iran and it is coming from the people," Reinfeldt said.

(Reporting by Niklas Pollard and Johan Sennero)