European Union foreign ministers and Canada approved a package of stiffer economic sanctions against Iran.

The EU sanctions approved Monday in Brussels are similar to the new U.S. sanctions imposed last month. They target Iran’s petroleum, banking, shipping, insurance and transportation industries as well as nuclear-related industries. The EU sanctions are scheduled to go into effect immediately, according to the Washington Post.

The Obama administration had exerted pressure on the EU to put new sanctions into effect.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

New sanctions targeting third parties that deal with Iran’s energy and finance sectors, as well as human rights abusers, were approved by the U.S. Congress last month.

The Canadian government’s sanctions, also announced Monday, include a ban on new investment in the oil and gas sector, and restrictions on exporting goods that could be used in its nuclear program.

B’nai Brith Canada commended the Harper government.

“To avoid the military option against the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program, Canada and her allies need to do everything in their power to sanction and isolate Iran,” said Frank Dimant, the group’s executive vice president, in a statement. “Targeting Iran’s most important lifeline, its oil and gas industries, as the Canadian Government has done, is a very welcome development.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount