The European Union and Canada slapped tough sanctions on Iran’s key energy sector in a bid to block its contested nuclear programme, and the United States said the punitive steps would bite.
European foreign ministers formally adopted the new measures Monday on the oil and gas industries, going beyond a fourth set of UN sanctions imposed over Iran’s refusal to freeze uranium enrichment. Canada then followed suit. The moves, which follow similar sanctions imposed by the United States, are aimed at reviving moribund talks between Iran and six world powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.-UNS