AFP: European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed tough sanctions against Iran, aimed at forcing a breakthrough in talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, and also the regime in war-ravaged Syria.
By Claire Rosemberg
LUXEMBOURG (AFP) — European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed tough sanctions against Iran, aimed at forcing a breakthrough in talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, and also the regime in war-ravaged Syria.
“This is a sign of our resolve,” said British Foreign Secretary William Hague of the Iran package. “That we will step up the pressure, we will intensify the pressure and we will continue to do so over the coming months unless negotiations succeed.”
The new package targets EU dealings with Iran’s banks, shipping and gas imports. Details on those targeted will be released Tuesday but a government minister is on the new blacklist, diplomats said.
Washington welcomed the accord as further strengthening “international efforts to pressure and isolate the Iranian government.
“Rallying the world to isolate Iran and increase the pressure on its leadership so that they stop pursuing a nuclear weapon has been a top priority” under President Barack Obama, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
“Iran is still playing for time despite intensive efforts for negotiation in recent months,” said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
“We don’t see sufficient willingness so far for substantial talks about the nuclear programme,” he added.
Citing “serious and deepening concerns” over Iran’s nuclear drive, a statement approved by the ministers said the EU had “agreed additional restrictive measures in the financial, trade, energy and transport sectors”.
It condemned Iran’s continuing production of enriched uranium and said Tehran was in flagrant violation of its international obligations by refusing to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
— ‘Clearly having an effect’ —
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents global powers in talks with Iran on its nuclear programme, said the sanctions aimed “to persuade Iran to come to the table”.
Previous sanctions, in particular a biting oil embargo that came into effect in July, are “quite clearly having an effect,” she told reporters.
On Syria, the EU, winner last week of the 2012 Nobel peace prize, agreed an assets freeze and travel ban against 28 Syrians and two firms, the bloc’s 19th round of restrictive measures against the Assad regime since the start of the conflict in March last year.
There were no details on those concerned. Their identities will be released Tuesday in the EU Official Journal.
Diplomats said the sanctions target people linked to violence against protesters, or firms accused of supplying equipment used by the regime to repress a protest movement now entering its 20th month.
Assad so far has shown no sign of buckling as long as Moscow maintains its support, despite embargos on oil imports and investment, and a ban on trade in gold and precious metals
Responding to pleas from Turkey to help it cope with an influx of more than 100,000 Syrian refugees, the EU also pledged to continue assisting but made no offer to take them in.
The EU’s financial and trade noose on Iran includes banning all transactions between European and Iranian banks unless authorised in advance by national authorities, for example for humanitarian or medical reasons. It also tightens existing sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran.
Sales of graphite and metals of potential use to Iran’s nuclear or ballistic missile programmes are also to be closed down, while other measures target Iran’s shipping industry.
The package also bans the use of EU vessels for transporting or storing Iranian oil.
An EU asset freeze and travel ban will be imposed on 34 additional entities, particularly in the oil, gas and financial sectors, as well as on one person.
“The restrictive measures agreed today are aimed at affecting Iran’s nuclear programme and revenues of the Iranian regime used to fund the programme and are not aimed at the Iranian people,” the statement said.
Iran “can act responsibly and bring these sanctions to an end,” it added.
But as long as it does not, the EU “remains determined to increase, in close coordination with international partners, pressure on Iran”.
After long denying the impact of Western economic sanctions, Iranian leaders have changed their rhetoric and now regularly condemn the Western-imposed “economic war” against Iran.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday before the EU decision that Iran’s enemies are seeking to disrupt the “calmness” in the country through economic confrontation.
