Brussels, 21/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 21 December, the Council of the European Union decided by written procedure to add one person and 18 entities linked to Iran's nuclear activities or providing support to the Iranian government to its list of those subject to an assets freeze and a visa ban. Thus 490 entities and 105 people are now subject to sanctions.
Adoption of implementing legislation on measures of 15 October. The Council defined the scope of measures taken on 15 October against Iran by adopting the draft implementing legislation (see EUROPE 10710). With their publication in the Official Journal on 22 December, these restrictive measures will take full legal effect.
This regulation moreover defines the ban on participating in transactions with Iranian financial institutions, except with prior authorisation. It also fixes the scope of application of several export bans - shipping equipment, metals, oil, dual-use goods, or technologies appropriate for industries controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps or for the nuclear programme. The legislation also lays down which natural gas products can no longer be imported into the EU and states that trade in Iranian natural gas is also forbidden. In addition, the regulation sets out the ban on supplying certain services to oil tankers and Iranian cargos, and on supplying ships for transporting and storing Iranian oil. (CG/transl.fl)