Rigorous new sanctions against Iran's banking, shipping and industrial sectors took effect yesterday, as part of the European Union's effort to force Tehran to scale back its nuclear programme.
The toughest EU measures yet, they include bans on financial transactions, sales to Iran of shipping equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian natural gas, adding to earlier bans, including on the OPEC producer's oil.
They reflect heightened concern over Iran's nuclear goals and Israeli threats to attack Iranian atomic installations if diplomacy and other measures fail to deliver a solution.