Global General

EU tightens sanctions against Iran

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-23 20:00

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) on Monday strengthened its sanctions on Iran amid concerns over its nuclear program.

The newly adopted restrictive measures placed a number of additional names on the lists of persons and entities subject to EU sanctions, including travel restrictions and assets freeze.

About 100 new entities related with the Iranian authorities were added to the EU sanctions list, said an EU senior diplomat.

"The Council adopted legislation today to strengthen the restrictive measures imposed on Iran owing to concerns about its nuclear program," said an EU statement.

"We keep looking at the position with Iran," the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters before the meeting of foreign ministers of 27 EU members.

"We want them to move forward with nuclear talks, it is very important that we keep the pressure on," she said.

The foreign ministers met on Monday in Brussels to discuss the Southern Neighborhood policy. It is also expected to adopt decisions on Syria, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen.