.jpg "EU bans Iranian oil")
Yesterday the foreign ministers of 27 EU states held a session in Brussels, where they approved an embargo on Iranian oil and innovative equipment exports. Earlier reports from Brussels said that the ban on Iranian oil exports will be gradual and will come into full force on July 1. Most Iranian imports come to Greece, Italy and Spain (about 68%). Greece consumes 35% of Iranian oil exports to the EU, RIA Novosti reports. EU citizens are prohibited from investing in Iranian oil enterprises or establishing joint enterprises with them.
Sales of gold, diamonds and other precious metals to Iran and any delivery of newly-minted coins and notes were also prohibited. The EU outlawed petrochemical imports and investments and banned the sale of gold, diamonds and other precious metals, reports Eubusiness. According to Middle East Online, the EU froze the assets of 433 firms, 113 individuals and Iran's Central Bank, as well as restricting trade and investment in the oil and gas industries.
Three people and eight firms were added to a list of individuals and entities targeted by an assets freeze and visa ban, Eurobusiness reports.
The West is pressing Iran to make it stop its nuclear programme. However, Iran insists on its peaceful purposes and character, describing the new EU sanctions as psychological war. The Iranian authorities claim that the embargo won’t prevent Iran from protecting its interests.
Talking about the reasons for strengthening the anti-Iranian rhetoric of the West, Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi, Ambassador of Iran to Russia, noted that: "A fuss around the Iranian nuclear program was made, but that is not the real point. 33 years ago the Islamic revolution succeeded in Iran. The Western countries and the US worried that such ideas and independence would spread to other countries of the Islamic world. That is why they have strived to capture the dividends and interests they used to have in Iran. They didn’t want other countries to learn from the Iranian example and reject American hegemony."
“However, recent events in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa show that the address by the Iranian peoples has spread to other countries," Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said. The ambassador also noted that everything that happened in Egypt, Tunisia and partially in Yemen means that the peoples of the states want to be free from American hegemony. “The US worried they would lose all their friends in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, where great energy resources are focused. So the political pressure on Iran turned into a full information war. They openly say that they want to launch a military strike on our country. Their words contradict all international agreements. Furthermore, America has internal economic problems. They blame other countries for their own failures”.
The ambassador emphasized the importance of the recent attempt on the life of an Iranian nuclear-physicist, “I should draw the attention of the Russian people to this moment. In the 21st century of science and development we witness villainous deeds. After the attempt, hundreds of Iranian students from various faculties expressed their intention to change specialty and study nuclear energy. It is a clear message to the world: you cannot frighten the young people of Iran”.
As for the situation in Syria, the ambassador said that Iran considered it to be a foreign provocation rather than a popular revolt. “This is understood by the behavior of Western countries, the spread of information and other practical aspects. We remember that the West tried to hide developments in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen. The US supported the government of Mubarak until the last moment. As for Syria, we can observe the exaggeration of the events. The Western media provokes the situation there. There are documents, which say that America’s friends are providing the Syrian rebels with money and armaments. We think that in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen people protested for freedom and independence, while in Syria the situation is different. There are actions for overthrowing an unacceptable regime. Of course, the American Navy didn't come to the Persian Gulf for fishing. How can Iranian vessels and American military ships be compared? How can Iranian vessels provoke them? It is ridiculous”.
“Some countries don’t want to import oil from the countries influenced by the USA. China is sure that Iran won’t change its oil policy, despite pressure from the US. The question is: do other countries of the Persian Gulf have such a policy? If China and the USA have contradictions, the US will launch an energy embargo against China. And China couldn’t buy oil in states friendly to the US. That is why I don’t think American hopes for the oil embargo against Iran will be fulfilled. Several days ago Mr. Patrushev visited Iran. After that, consultations between the security councils of two countries were intensified. The consultations include a wide circle of issues. The talks were friendly and effective. We welcome the position of Russia on the exaggeration of the situation around Iran. As for help for the states of the South Caucasus, the ambassador said that Americans do not provide humanitarian support, adding ‘If the authorities of America are so kind, they should first of all deal with their own poor people. Behind the support lie political objectives. And we think this support is not in favor of the region’s countries”.
