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British foreign minister confident new EU Iran sanctions coming

16 January 2012 16:00 (UTC +04:00)

EU states have agreed in principle to ban imports of Iranian oil over Tehran’s nuclear programme. They are working on details of how the ban will be implemented before a Jan. 23 foreign ministers’ meeting.

Iran has threatened to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if foreign sanctions are imposed on its crude exports, a move that could trigger military conflict with economies dependent on Gulf oil.

"We must not be put off further sanctions by bluster or statements from Iran. This is an increasingly dangerous situation that Iran is developing a military nuclear programme," Hague told Sky News. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

"I am confident we will adopt very significant additional measures against Iran at the European Foreign Affairs Council a week tomorrow, on the 23rd, covering the oil sector and possibly other sectors as well," he said.
Hague said that if Iran continued on its "dangerous course" it would lead to nuclear proliferation across the Middle East that would be extremely dangerous for the people of Iran, for the region and for the peace of the world.

"Our sanctions are part of trying to get Iran to change course and to enter negotiations and we should not be deterred from implementing those. We will continue to intensify our own sanctions and those of the European Union."

Britain was not calling for military action against Iran over its nuclear programme but had not ruled out supporting any option, Hague said.