EU reimposes sanctions on Iran over nuclear activities

BRUSSELS

The EU Council on Monday decided to reimpose a series of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear proliferation activities.

The move came after the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution – proposed by China and Russia – to delay the reimposition of sanctions and extend the nuclear deal’s terms for six more months, but the text did not pass. As a result, UN sanctions lifted under the agreement were automatically reinstated.

The renewed measures include travel bans and asset freezes targeting individuals and entities, along with prohibitions on providing them with financial or economic resources.

Economic and financial restrictions will once again apply to trade, banking and transport sectors.

Under the trade rules, the EU is banning the import, purchase and transport of Iranian crude oil, natural gas and petrochemical products, as well as related services. The sanctions also cover the sale or supply of key energy equipment, precious metals such as gold and diamonds, certain naval equipment and specific software.

The EU has also refrozen the assets of the Central Bank of Iran and several major Iranian commercial banks.

Transport measures were also restored, with Iranian cargo flights barred from EU airports and restrictions reintroduced on the maintenance and servicing of Iranian aircraft and vessels carrying prohibited materials.

Despite the renewed sanctions, European and US diplomats continued to urge Iran to engage in talks.

The Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached in July 2015 to limit Tehran’s nuclear program to peaceful purposes in exchange for sanctions relief.

On Aug. 28 this year, August, France, Germany and the UK informed the UN that Iran was in “significant” breach of its commitments, justifying the need to trigger the deal’s snapback mechanism, which allows sanctions to be reimposed quickly if violations are found.

The following day, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, along with France and Germany, formally recommended reinstating EU sanctions.