Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 8, 2008

EU Begins Enforcement of New Iran Sanctions 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D9A0C3:A6F02AD83191E1609AE7692C5E2D808470AD7039DCD7B7E4&
 
Measures call for financial institutions to exercise greater vigilance
over any grants or other assistance, including export credits for Iran 
The European Union imposed new trade sanctions against Iran Friday, as
Tehran continues to hold out against international demands that it
freeze its nuclear enrichment program. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from
Paris.EU flag outside European Commission's Berlaymont buildingIn a
statement published Friday by the bloc's current president France, the
European Union announced it had begun to apply new measures against
Tehran, including closely scrutinizing financial groups doing business
with Iranian banks, and holding back on loans for companies trading with
Iran. The EU's 27 members will also inspect airplanes and ships
traveling to and from Iran to insure they are not carrying illegal
materials.The sanctions make good an agreement by EU ambassadors last
month and go further than existing United Nations trade sanctions. But
they do not impose sanctions on Iran's oil and gas trade.Tehran insists
its nuclear program is for the peaceful purpose of providing energy and
not an ef!
 fort to build nuclear weapons, as western nations fear. Earlier this
week, France and the United States criticized as insufficient Iran's
response to a package of incentives offered in exchange for Iran's
freezing its nuclear program.European Union foreign policy chief Javier
Solana In recent remarks to reporters in Brussels, the EU's foreign
policy chief Javier Solana laid out the stakes for each side."For us, to
refrain from any further sanctions in the [UN] Security Council. For
them, to refrain from any other nuclear activity...That is what we are
asking - which we call freeze for freeze," said Solana. "It's something
very sensible to engage in the process of negotiation. It's as simple as
that."Iran has yet to give a clear response to the incentives package,
saying it wants more details. In the meantime, it may face the threat of
yet more sanctions at the United Nations Security Council.


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