Iran deplores new EU sanctions

Iran has criticized new EU sanctions against the country over its nuclear program, saying such measures will “only complicate matters.”

The European Union on Monday adopted new sanctions against Iran which mainly target investment in and technical assistance to Iran’s refining, liquefaction and liquefied natural gas sectors.

“Sanctions… will only complicate matters and move away [the parties] from mutual understanding,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted by IRNA as saying.

The sanctions came a day after the Iranian foreign minister announced Tehran was ready to hold talks with the West on nuclear fuel swap.

Manouchehr Mottaki made the remark in a press conference after holding trilateral talks with his counterparts from Turkey and Brazil in Istanbul on Sunday.