Iran MP warns EU against sanctions

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of Majlis National
Security and Foreign Policy Commission



Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136240§ionid=351020101


A senior Iranian lawmaker has warned the European Union against imposing any additional sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

“If EU wants to follow US policies on Iran and impose additional sanctions on the country, Islamic Republic will reconsider its cooperation with the member states,” head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said,

Boroujerdi added that the EU is a political union of 27 independent member states but, regarding Islamic Republic, it always follow US policies and can not make an independent decision.

The warning came just a day before the European Union is expected to impose unilateral sanctions on Tehran at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.

The EU reached agreement on Thursday on a package of sanctions which includes measures against Iran's oil and gas industry.

On June 9, the UN Security Council passed a US-drafted sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program. The US and EU have since adopted unilateral measures against Iran.

Iranian officials say that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty the country has the right to peaceful nuclear technology for civilian electricity generation and medical research.

Tehran has repeatedly declared that it will not relinquish the legitimate nuclear rights of the Iranian nation under Western pressure.

Total: Iran sanctions serious mistake

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=133135§ionid=351020103



The CEO of French energy giant Total, Christophe de Margerie, says imposing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program was a "serious mistake."

Speaking at an economic forum in Aix-en-Provence in southern France, Margerie confirmed Total had suspended fuel deliveries to Iran in line with sanctions adopted by the UN, US and the EU.

"I maintain this is a mistake. The embargo affects the population, too many things are politicized these days," he told the media on Friday.

Margerie noted that an embargo on petrol products would harm ordinary people in Iran.

"We do not think an embargo on the delivery of petrol products is a good way to settle differences of a political nature," he said.

He stressed that Total would resume deliveries at the first opportunity, saying it was a "serious mistake to mix things that are civil and political."

The UN Security Council adopted a fourth round of sanctions against Iran on June 9, despite strong opposition by Turkey and Brazil — both temporary members of the council.

This is while in addition, US President Barack Obama approved unilateral Iran sanctions on Thursday. The EU is also set to finalize further measures at a meeting of foreign ministers on July 26.

Iran sends 'warning letter' to EU

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=132866§ionid=351020101



Iran has reportedly sent a letter to EU foreign ministers to warn about "dire consequences" of the EU decision to impose tougher sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

"Undoubtedly, such a confrontational approach may have dire consequences in the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the European Union," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in a copy of the letter to EU foreign ministers obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

The EU's decision "will definitely cause far greater losses for the European Union itself rather than for the Islamic Republic of Iran as this is amply demonstrated in all previous statistics," said the letter, which was received on Tuesday.

Mottaki's letter also said the 27-nation bloc "will practically deny itself of the potentially strategic cooperation of a powerful and influential partner in the sensitive region of the Middle East and Persian Gulf."

"Let us hope that the European Union will not succumb to US pressures to march on a wrong path that will only produce everlasting shame before the free-minded nations of the world," he added.

At a European Council summit in Brussels on June 17, EU leaders approved new sanctions against Iran that include a ban on new investment, technical assistance, and technology transfers to Iran's huge oil and gas industry, particularly for refining and liquefied natural gas.

The unilateral EU sanctions came after a US-proposed sanctions resolution against Iran was passed at the UN Security Council on June 9.

Tehran has repeatedly declared that it will never relinquish the legitimate nuclear rights of the Iranian nation, no matter how much pressure the Westerns impose on the country.