BRUSSELS - The European Union was set on Monday to formally adopt a package of new sanctions against Iran, targeting the country's foreign trade, banking and energy sectors. The move, which was agreed to in principle by EU leaders in June, is the latest in a series of measures taken by the international community in an effort to halt Iran's nuclear program. EU foreign ministers are expected "to adopt a decision on a package of restrictive measures to be imposed on Iran in the areas of trade, financial services, energy and transport, and also a regulation extending the list of entities and individuals subject to an assets ban," an EU statement said. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said, "We will discuss the sanctions we want to move forward with. We have a comprehensive set of sanctions. This is something where we have all 27 countries working together." The new European restrictions will come on top of a fourth round of sanctions imposed last month by the UN Security Council to curtail Iran's nuclear program over fears it is developing weapons. The council endorsed those sanctions after Iran rebuffed a plan to suspend uranium enrichment and swap its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium for fuel rods. The new restrictions are similar to measures adopted by the Obama administration, which has imposed penalties against additional individuals and institutions it says are helping Iran develop its nuclear and missile programs, and evade international sanctions. Iran denies that it is working on a nuclear weapon, saying its program is intended solely for peaceful purposes such as energy-generation, and that it has the right to enrich uranium under the international nonproliferation treaty. EU foreign ministers also are expected reaffirm the bloc's invitation to Tehran to hold talks on the issue. "Our aim is to bring Iran back to the negotiating table," said German State Secretary Werner Hoyer. "We're offering our hand, and all they have to do is to take it."
