Iran Nuclear NewsEU orders study of possible new Iran sanctions

EU orders study of possible new Iran sanctions

-

Reuters: The European Union instructed experts on Monday to study further possible sanctions on Iran unless its halts nuclear activities the West suspects are aimed at making atomic bombs. By Mark John

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – The European Union instructed experts on Monday to study further possible sanctions on Iran unless its halts nuclear activities the West suspects are aimed at making atomic bombs.

The statement gave no timeframe and did not mention a French call for EU states to consider European sanctions, for example further restricting the Iranian banking system, without waiting for the United Nations to act.

“The (European) Council agreed that the EU will consider what additional measures it might take in order to support the UN process and the shared objectives of the international community, and invited relevant Council bodies to provide timely advice,” EU foreign ministers said in a statement.

The French idea has split the EU, with countries such as Germany and Italy reluctant to act, but French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner denied the idea had little backing in the bloc.

“France is not isolated, and not only is it not isolated, it is being followed,” Kouchner told a news conference. “It is true some believe sanctions are not efficient and say we should wait … We shall see in late November.”

By that time the U.N. nuclear watchdog is due to report on Iran’s cooperation with its agents, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will assess his efforts to draw Tehran into negotiations on inducements for suspending uranium enrichment.

“I will be meeting Dr (Ali) Larijani soon in order to maintain the contact that we started some time ago,” Solana said of discussions with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator that have so far failed to yield a breakthrough.

France made its appeal to EU partners to take the lead on sanctions earlier this month after the U.N. Security Council decided to delay further measures, Russia in particular calling for more time for Tehran to change its stance.

Britain said stepping up pressure on Iran could help.

“There was a very strong view that the diplomatic track was the right track, but it had to have teeth,” Foreign Secretary David Miliband told reporters.

“There’s a very strong feeling we had to support (the UN process) and that is why the EU will be looking into the whole range of sanctions options in the interim period over the next six weeks.”

Iran denies it wants nuclear bombs, insisting its program is aimed purely at generating electricity.

(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom)

Latest news

 Statistics show that New Year accidents’ deaths in Iran reached 585

Ahmad Shirani, the head of the Information and Traffic Control Center of the Iranian regime’s police, announced that the...

Land Subsidence in Critical Conditions in Isfahan

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), pointed to the occurrence of land subsidence in various...

Iran’s Actual Inflation Rate Higher Than Official Stats

The state-run Donya-e-eqtesad newspaper, in a report analyzing the "general sentiment" regarding inflation in 2023, has stated that households...

Iranian Workers’ Monthly $136 Wages Can’t Cover $500 Expenses

The lives of a significant portion of the Iranian population are marked by uncertainty, largely because the Iranian economy...

Iranian Nurses Earn Twice Their Wages in Ride-Hailing Services

Reza Aryanpour, a member of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Health and Treatment Commission, highlighted the growing trend of nurses...

Iran: Unprecedented Record of 152 Million Liters of Gasoline Consumption Per Day

On March 19, Iran set a new historical record in gasoline consumption with 152 million liters consumed in one...

Must read

UN: Violence in Syria worse than before ceasefire

AP: The violence in Syria has worsened since a...

Maryam Rajavi and the Plan for Women’s Rights in Iran

There are ten areas that Maryam Rajavi and the...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you