European Union leaders have approved a new set of sanctions against Iran that go further than the latest United Nations measures.
The fresh EU sanctions include a ban on investments, technical assistance and technology transfers to Iran’s key oil and gas industry.
On Wednesday, the US announced its own fresh sanctions, implementing the UN measures approved last week.
Western powers suspect Iran is seeking nuclear weapons – which Tehran denies.
The new EU sanctions were approved on Thursday by a summit in Brussels.
In a statement, the leaders expressed regret “that Iran has not taken the many opportunities which have been offered to it to remove the concerns of the international community over the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme”.
Full story: BBC News – EU leaders approve fresh sanctions against Iran