Brussels, 13/04/2021 (Agence Europe) – “Strongly” condemning on Monday 12 April the sanctions announced earlier in the day by the EU against eight Iranian security officials and three prisons (see EUROPE 12696/10), Iran announced that it was suspending, in retaliation, “comprehensive talks with the EU, including human rights discussion, and all cooperation thereof, especially in the domains of terrorism, narcotics and refugees”. In a statement, Iranian diplomatic spokesman Saïd Khatibzadeh also announced that Iran was considering “reciprocal sanctions, which will be announced in due course” in response to the European measures. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also denounced the sanctions. “If this decision was deliberately taken while negotiations are still ongoing in Vienna to save (the nuclear deal), it is not only regrettable, it is an error worse than a crime”, he said. (CG)