E.U. Adopts Oil Embargo on Iran

E.U. leaders formally banned imports of oil from Iran, and other economic sanctions, in response to its continued nuclear programme. The decision to continue with sanctions was ratified by all 27 member states. The embargo aims to take an estimated daily 2.6 million barrels of Iranian oil off the international market, with all existing contacts to be phased out by July 1. E.U. Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, said in response to the recent embargo “I want the pressure of these sanctions to result in negotiations.” Mohammad Kossari, deputy head of Iran’s parliament, threatened the scheduled sanctions saying “if any disruption happens regarding the sale of Iranian oil, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be closed.” During a news conference in Washington, with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, U.S. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, offered a conciliatory message towards Iran, saying “we strongly believe the people of Iran deserve a better future. They can have that future, the country can be reintegrated into the global community … when their government definitively turns away from pursuing nuclear weapons.” In the same news conference Westerwelle also stated, “one thing is clear: the door for serious dialogue remains open but the option of nuclear weapons in Iran is not acceptable.”