Iran recommends EU to replace sanctions with logical steps

Spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast said today that the new EU sanctions will not affect the nuclear program or force Tehran to discuss it with the international community, RIA Novosti reports.

Iran recommends the EU to replace pressure on Iran with more logical steps that would encourage negotiations.

Foreign ministers of 27 EU states passed new economic sanctions in Luxembourg on Monday. 34 more Iranian companies, a bank and Iranian Minister for Energy Majid Namju were blacklisted. Gas contracts with Iran, sales of graphite and aluminium were banned. EU banks were restricted from any deals with Iranian credit organizations, except humanitarian purchases. EU states were restricted from registering Iranian trade and cargo ships.