Iran nuclear sanctions push fails to win EU consensus

guardian.co.uk

European Union foreign ministers have failed to agree to impose an embargo on Iranian oil, but have applied sanctions on 180 other people and companies.

The foreign secretary, William Hague, had earlier called for an "intensification of sanctions" against Iran but denied there would be retaliation for Monday's attack on the British embassy in Tehran.

Iran has drawn renewed ire from the international community for failing to protect the embassy, although the EU meeting had been called to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Hague said any course of action agreed would relate to Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapons programme.

"These are not measures that are in reaction to our embassy. There has been a range of other reactions to that. Our long-term concern is, of course, the nuclear programme, the danger that poses to the peace of the Middle East and the wider world, the threat of proliferation spreading to other countries in the region. It is for that reason we will agree, I hope, today to intensify European sanctions on Iran."

Some countries had argued in favour of the oil embargo, saying it would reduce money available to Iran to develop nuclear weapons. The French foreign minister, Alain Juppé, said Greece, which relies on Iranian oil, objected to such a move.

Hague also accused Iran of supporting repression in Syria as he entered the foreign ministers' meeting, telling reporters: "There is a link between what is happening in Iran and what is happening in Syria."

In a House of Commons statement on Wednesday, Hague said: "If any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here. This does not amount to the severing of diplomatic relations in their entirety. It is action that reduces our relations with Iran to the lowest level consistent with the maintenance of diplomatic relations."

He has issued a deadline for the Iranian embassy in London to close and for all its staff to leave the UK. He also used the Commons statement to confirm the closure of Britain's embassy in Tehran and the evacuation of all its staff.