EU demands new sanctions aginst Iran

Cyprus: European Union heavyweights Britain, France and Germany called on their EU partners on Friday to impose new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Tehran's
failure to meet international demands to scale back its nuclear
work meant the EU should discuss new sanctions within weeks.

"Sanctions are necessary and soon. I can't see there is
really a constructive will on the Iranian side for substantial
talks” Westerwelle told Reuters.

He called the inconclusive outcome of three rounds of negotiations this year between Iran and the three EU states, Russia, China and the United States "disappointing".

The United States is applying increasing diplomatic pressure around the world to isolate the Iranian economy. Canada announced on Friday it was closing its embassy in Tehran.

The sanctions are aimed at forcing Iran to curb the nuclear activities the West believes are aimed at developing atomic weapons capability, an allegation Tehran denies. Iran says its nuclear work is for peaceful energy purposes. (Reuters)