EU maintains Iran sanctions

The EU is maintaining sanctions against Iran to prevent nuclear proliferation, the EU Council of Ministers said on Tuesday. The sanctions were due to be lifted on October 18. “The Council considered that there are good reasons not to lift these sanctions on the day of transition as originally planned,” the statement said. The specific reasons have not been disclosed. This means that the EU maintains sanctions against “persons and entities” involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities or affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Sanctions to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons are also maintained, as is an arms and missile embargo against Iran. /ritzau/