Brussels, 23/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 23 May, the foreign affairs ministers of the EU formally decided to extend the autonomous sanctions of the EU in place against Tehran due to the Iranian nuclear programme. More than 100 companies suspected of having links to the Iranian nuclear and missile programmes - including the European-Iranian Trade Bank (EIHB) - have been added to the list of entities whose European assets have been frozen. Additionally, a number of people, mostly senior figures within companies, have been added to the list of individuals hit by a visa ban, the diplomats announced. The list of businesses and individuals affected by the new raft of sanctions will be published in the Official Journal this Tuesday 24 May. (H.B./transl.fl)