Western powers consider additional Iran sanctions beyond UN
Washington, 8 August (IranVNC)—The United States, Britain, France and Germany are reported to be considering additional sanctions against Iran that would go beyond United Nations Security Council sanctions, a senior British official said today.
By: IranVNC
Published: Friday, August 08, 2008
12:25GMT—8:25AM/EST
US – IRAN – SANCTIONS
Washington, 8 August (IranVNC)—The United States, Britain, France and Germany are reported to be considering additional sanctions against Iran that would go beyond United Nations Security Council sanctions, a senior British official said today.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the Western powers may pursue sanctions on Iran’s energy and financial sectors, with the first three countries leading the move.
“There are areas of the Iranian economy that are vulnerable to targeted sanctions … which are areas we would look at if we are looking to increase the pressure on the Iranian leadership,” Reuters quotes the source as saying.
The areas include Iran’s oil and gas sector, imported refined products, reinsurance, LNG [liquefied natural gas] and other financial areas, the source noted.
He said there are other countries that the powers want to involve in the talks as they proceed, without specifying any.
The announcement came hours after the European Union said that it will implement new sanctions against Iran that would go above and beyond the latest Security Council resolution on that country.
The U.S. and Britain said on Wednesday that major powers agreed to consider further UN sanctions against Iran after that country failed to provide a positive respond to an incentives package the six powers had offered it in return for suspension of uranium enrichment. Russia has said that there was no firm agreement.
Russia and China have been reluctant to impose additional sanctions against Iran and their resistance has softened prior UN sanctions against Tehran.
Speaking at the Friday Prayer in Tehran today, Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani urged the two countries to stand firm against US and UK demands for more sanctions.
The U.S. and European Union have passed their own sanctions against the Islamic Republic, in addition to the three Security Council resolutions imposed against Iran since December 2006.
Sources: Reuters, European Union Council website
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