European Union significantly expands sanctions against Iran

The European Union significantly extended its sanctions against Iran, reflecting mounting frustration over a lack of progress in nuclear talks with Tehran.

EU foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Brussels to add more than 100 new entities to a list of companies and people affected by EU sanctions, designed to put economic pressure on Tehran to abandon its atomic programme, EU diplomats said.

The measures, asset freezes and visa bans, add to a range of financial and trade sanctions the EU's 27 governments have already imposed on Tehran.

"The Council adopted legislation today to strengthen the restrictive measures imposed on Iran owing to concerns about its nuclear programme," the ministers said in a statement.

World powers suspect Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons under the cover of its declared civilian nuclear energy programme, but Tehran says it needs nuclear power to meet growing domestic demand for electricity.

Talks with Iran on suspending the nuclear programme in return for trade and technology have ground to a halt, with the last meeting in Istanbul in January failing to yield results.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, expressed concern at the lack of progress earlier this month, saying messages she was receiving from Tehran about future meetings were disappointing.

"I do urge Iran to think again and to consider coming back to the table ... But from the letters that I've received, I don't see that at the present time," Ashton said at the time.