Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


EU Slaps New Sanctions on Iran

   VOA News 17 June 2010

   European  Union  leaders have agreed to impose new sanctions on Iran -
   joining  the  United  States  and United Nations in putting additional
   pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.
   The  EU  measures  approved  Thursday include a ban on new investment,
   technical  assistance  and transfers of technologies to Iran's key oil
   and natural gas sector.
   The  sanctions  are  designed to put significant financial pressure on
   Iran,  which  holds  some  of  the largest natural gas reserves in the
   world.
   The  measures  coincide  with expanded sanctions by the United States,
   and follow last week's decision by the U.N. Security Council to impose
   additional sanctions on Tehran.
   Western  countries  suspect Iran is using its nuclear program to build
   weapons.  Iran says the program is for peaceful purposes only.
   The  U.S.  Wednesday  blacklisted  a state-controlled Iranian bank, as
   well  as  22 petroleum and petrochemical companies, a designation that
   puts them off-limits to U.S. businesses.
   Officials  also  designated  five  front  companies  and  more than 90
   vessels  that  the  Obama  administration  contends are used by Iran's
   national  maritime  carrier Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines to
   evade sanctions.

   Â

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

.