New York –– AJC welcomed today’s European Union laudable decision to impose tougher sanctions on Iran in the face of Tehran’s continued defiance over its nuclear program. The sanctions include a ban on selling equipment, technology and services to Iran’s energy sector, limiting the activities of Iranian trading banks and insurers and an additional ban upon dual-use goods that can be used for conventional weapons.

“We applaud the EU for introducing new sanctions which, like the fresh sanctions imposed by the United States earlier this month, tell the Iranian regime clearly that the world will not quietly accept the grave threat its nuclear activities pose to global peace and security,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “The sanctions are also welcome reaffirmation that the democracies of Europe and America are united in confronting the Iranian threat.”

The European Union has been Iran’s biggest commercial partner in recent years, with annual trade valued at approximately $12 billion.

“We now look to the EU to fully implement its bold decision,” said Harris. “Given Iran’s track record of creating front companies and seeking other means of circumventing sanctions, these measures must be watertight.”

AJC also called attention to the regrettable statement of Turkey’s Finance Minister that his country will observe only the UN sanctions against Iran and not the additional EU steps.

“We urge both the United States and the EU to do all they can to extend the international consensus that ever tougher and more robust sanctions are an entirely necessary response to Iran’s defiance,” said Harris.