Brussels, 01/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 1 December 2011, EU27 foreign ministers expressed concern at the Iranian nuclear programme and the lack of diplomatic progress and decided to beef up EU sanctions against the regime by freezing the assets and cash (and issuing a visa ban) of 37 individuals and 143 bodies. The people and bodies in question are connected with the use of nuclear material in Iran and the country's maritime transport company (Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines) or Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The list will be officially published on Friday 2 December 2011.
Ministers agreed to extend the existing sanctions in close cooperation with international partners and called on working groups to draw up the new measures ahead of the next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 30 January 2012. The idea is to seriously undermine Iran's financial system, transport, energy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and other bodies. Speaking after the meeting, French foreign minister Alain Juppe said the EU had decided to work on unprecedented tougher sanctions to penalise the financial sector and the oil industry. The United Kingdom, Germany and France want an oil embargo but Juppé said that Greece, which is highly dependent on Iranian oil, expressed reservations. He said it would be possible to work with various partners to ensure that any interruption in oil from Iran could be made up for by increased oil production in other countries. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt backed the idea of an oil embargo but wondered if it would have any real impact.
The ministers said they strongly backed the resolution by the governing council of the International Atomic Energy Agency expressing deep concern about Iran's nuclear programme, and said the EU would be working towards a diplomatic solution via a two-pronged approach of sanctions combined with dialogue. In this connection, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said at a press conference that Iran had not replied to a letter she had sent.
The ministers expressed outrage at the attack on the British Embassy in Teheran by Iranian protesters on Tuesday 29 November 2011, and criticised Iran's decision to expel the British Ambassador in retaliation against stronger measures by the UK against Iran. The EU Council of Ministers said it viewed the attacks on the UK as attacks on the EU as a whole and could be taking appropriate measures in response. Catherine Ashton said that the measures ranged from declarations of support for the UK to recalling ambassadors from Teheran (France, Germany and the Netherlands, possibly soon to be joined by Italy). Juppé said after the meeting that ministers had decided to coordinate the decision to recall the ambassadors. (CG/transl.fl)