Tougher Sanctions Against Iran Take Effect

The new sanctions, which were agreed in October, are the toughest measures yet taken by the European Union against Iran as part of trying to force Iran to scale back its nuclear program. They include bans on financial transactions, sales to Iran of shipping equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian natural gas. The EU had previously stopped buying Iran’s oil. “Iran’s leaders know that sanctions are having a significant impact,” said Alistair Burt, the UK minister for the Middle East and North Africa. “They should be in doubt that the international community will keep up the pressure until they are ready to negotiate in good faith and take the concrete steps needed to convince the international community that they are not building a nuclear weapon.”