Brussels, 21/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Iran will be firm in its answer to the new sanctions that the EU has decided to impose on Iran due to its nuclear programme, the Iranian authorities have warned. The EU will be faced with a firm and appropriate answer from Iran if it continues its sanctions policy, it has been reported in the Iranian Press TV channel, referring to comments made by Vice President Ali Ahani. “The sanctions policy towards Iran over its nuclear programme will not help to resolve the conflict but will cause injury to European companies”, he stressed. Ali Ahani also said that European sanctions “will not have any impact on the determination of the Iranian government and people to exercise their legitimate right to use nuclear technology under IAEA supervision”. The European Council decided on 17 June to impose additional sanctions against Tehran that will go far beyond those already decided by the UN Security Council. To this end, European leaders have defined target sectors (energy, trade, finance, maritime and air, freeze of assets and visa ban - see EUROPE 10162) but sanctions strictly speaking will be adopted by the next Foreign Affairs Council scheduled to be held at the end of July (H.B./transl.jl)