By NN-KUNA,
Brussels : The European Commission (EC), the executive body of the European Union, announced here Friday afternoon that it “has taken the necessary steps to implement” more sanctions on Iran for its failure to freeze nuclear enrichment activities.
The EC said it has made a proposal for a regulation on Friday to the Council of the EU in this regard.
The statement came only a few hours after the EU Council said it has adopted a common position on the 3rd round of UN Security Council resolutions against Iran.
The 27-member bloc has extended its sanctions against Iran and added a travel ban and assets freeze to additional persons and entities engaged in, or associated with Irans proliferation sensitive nuclear activities, and the embargo on additional dual-use items that could contribute to Irans proliferation sensitive nucelar activities, said the EC statement.
The common position also commits EU member states to exercise restraint in providing financial support for trade with Iran (export credits) in order to avoid that this could contribute to Iran s proliferation sensitive nucelar activities.
It calls for new vigilance measures over the activities of financial institutions with Iranian banks, branches and subsidiaries and it provides for the inspection of cargoes of Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line where they are reasonable grounds to believe that they may be transporting goods for Irans nuclear program.