Brussels, 23/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers adopted implementing legislation on Friday 23 March allowing restrictive measures, including an oil embargo, adopted at the Council of 23 January in response to the Iranian nuclear programme to be implemented. This regulation “defines the precise scope of the measures agreed in January, including the trade restrictions on oil and petroleum products and on petrochemical products and the asset freeze against the Iranian central bank”, states a Council press release. It also clarifies relevant administrative procedures for national authorities implementing the sanctions. The measures will become effective from their publication in the Official Journal of the EU of 24 March.
Ministers also imposed a visa ban and a freeze on the assets of 17 people responsible for “serious human rights violations”. Their names will be published in the Official Journal of 24 March. The export of equipment and software intended for use in the monitoring or interception of internet and telephone communications by the Iranian authorities has been banned. The Council also extended restrictive measures imposed in response to human rights violations by 12 months. They will now remain in force until 13 April 2013. (CG/transl.rt)