EU puts Iran oil embargo in place

An oil embargo against Iran has been agreed as part of EU sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Foreign Secretary William Hague called the measure part of "an unprecedented set of sanctions."

"I think this shows the resolve of the European Union on this issue," he said

Diplomats say the measures, adopted by the EU's 27 foreign ministers, include an immediate embargo on new contracts for crude oil and petroleum products while existing ones are allowed to run until July.

Iran says its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. But many international officials fear the country is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has
welcomed an EU ban on Iranian oil as
part of sanctions against the
country over its nuclear programme (AP)

EU diplomats called the measure part of a twin track approach: increase sanctions to discourage what they suspect is Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons but to emphasize at the same time the international community's willingness to talk.

The EU also agreed to freeze the assets of the Iranian central bank. Together, the two measures are intended not only to pressure Iran to agree to talks but also to choke of funding for its nuclear activities.

In October EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton wrote to Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, saying her goal was a negotiated solution that "restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme." She has not yet received a reply.

In advance of the decision, negotiators worked hard to try to ensure that the embargo would punish only Iran - and not EU member Greece, which is in dire financial trouble and relies heavily on low-priced Iranian oil.

The foreign ministers agreed to a review of the effects of the sanctions, to be completed by May 1.

'No plans' for Western military action on Syria, Iran

Western nations have no immediate plans for military action to stop the repression of protests in Syria or to halt Iran's nuclear programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday.

Asked if there was a possibility of a no-fly zone in Syria like the one imposed over Libya last year, Hague said there was "no serious prospect" of a UN resolution on the subject.

"We haven't been looking at a no-fly zone," Hague told Sky News, saying it would be only effective in tandem with other measures, and that the Syrian regime had not been relying on air power to repress protests.

"There is no serious prospect certainly at the moment of the United Nations Security Council agreeing any resulution at the moment, let alone agreeing a resolution comparable to anything that happened in Libya."

But he said that if the current Arab League monitoring mission in Syria does not work "I hope they (the Arab League) will come to the UN and suggest a way forward that we can all get behind."

Hague was also cool on suggestions by Qatar that Arab forces should be sent into Syria to stop the deadly 10-month crackdown on dissent by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

On Iran, Hague warned that Tehran's "dangerous" nuclear drive threatened profileration across the Middle East.

"We must not be put off further sanctions by bluster or statements from Iran," Hague said, adding that he hoped European Union foreign ministers would agree new measures when they meet on January 23.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waves at supporters during a rare public appearance in Damascus on January 11

"If it continues it will produce nuclear profileration across the Middle East, which will then be extremely dangerous for the people of Iran, for the whole region and for the peace of the world."

Hague refused to rule out military action against Iran but said Britain was not calling for it.

"We've never ruled anything out, we've not ruled out any option, or we've not ruled out supporting any option, we believe all options should be on the table, that is part of the pressure on Iran, he said.

"But we're clearly not calling for or advocating military action, we're advocating negotiation, meaningful netogiations, if Iran will enter in to them."

The West accuses Iran of trying to produce a nuclear weapon, but Iran says its programme is for civilian use.

AFP 2012

HAGUE CONDEMNS IRAN OVER URANIUM

Foreign Secretary William Hague tonight said he was "extremely disappointed" by Iran's decision to carry out high-level uranium enrichment and branded it a "provocative act".

A United Nation's nuclear watchdog confirmed today that the process is under way in a fortified underground bunker near the holy city of Qom.

The "clandestine nature" of the activity undermines Tehran's claims that its nuclear programme is entirely civilian, Mr Hague said.

He claims Iran can provide "no credible rationale" for producing such quantities of 20% enriched uranium, which can be turned into fissile warhead material, and called on it to stop production immediately.

Mr Hague said: "I am extremely disappointed by Iran's decision to start enrichment operations at its Qom facility.

"At a time when the international community is asking Iran to provide assurances of the peaceful nature of its programme, this is a provocative act which further undermines Iran's claims that its programme is entirely civilian in nature.

"Iran only acknowledged the facility at Qom after its existence became known. Its size, location and clandestine nature raise serious questions about its ultimate purpose.

"Iran can provide no credible rationale for producing so much 20% enriched uranium. Its claim to be enriching for the Tehran research reactor does not stand up to serious scrutiny.

President Ahmadinejad tours the Natanz uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, Iran in April 2008.

"Iran already has sufficient enriched uranium to power the reactor for more than five years and has not even installed the equipment necessary to manufacture fuel elements.

"If Iran has nothing to hide, it should seek every opportunity to reassure the international community of its peaceful intentions.

"In the absence of this, international pressure on Iran will only increase further".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed earlier today that the enrichment process was under way at the underground Fordo plant, which Iran only acknowledged after the UK, United States and France revealed its existence in 2009.

PA 2012