EU to step up Iran sanctions over nuclear fears

EU foreign ministers are expected to step up sanctions against Iran, targeting trade and investment over concerns about the country’s nuclear programme.

The latest sanctions are wider than those agreed by the UN Security Council on Wednesday that included permitting countries to inspect vessels suspected of bringing banned goods to Iran.

EU diplomats said the new measures had become inevitable given the fact that Iran did not fully accept the proposals brokered by Turkey and Brazil and its decision to increase enrichment of uranium, bringing it closer to nuclear weapon use.