EU Ministers Formally Agree Sanctions Against Iran

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg today (official site) April 23, 2007 -- EU foreign ministers have formally agreed to introduce sanctions against Iran over its nuclear ambitions, in line with a UN Security Council resolution.

Meeting in Luxembourg, the ministers agreed on a blacklist of individuals and organizations targeted by the UN in December.

But the EU's sanctions reportedly apply to a broader list of individuals than the UN resolution.

Foreign ministers also agreed in principle to apply a second UN resolution against Iran. That resolution involves restrictions on arms sales.

Before today's meeting, however, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with Tehran.

"It will be very important to [remain] engaged [with Iran] in a pragmatic way," she said. "I think this is important, and also to reach out to the pragmatic parts of the Iranian society."

Iran maintains its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.

EU foreign-policy chief Javier Solana has confirmed that nuclear talks with Iran will resume on April 25 with a meeting in Turkey.

Senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani today urged Solana to avoid any "preconditions" and instead present "new initiatives" to break the deadlock.

(Reuters, AFP, Mehr)