DANISH ENVOY SUMMONED TO IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OVER EU’S SANCTIONS ON IRAN

Following the approval of new sanctions by the European Union Ministerial Council against Iran, the Danish ambassador to Tehran was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, AVA Diplomatic reports.According to the Foreign Ministry Media Department on Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister in Europe and America Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji summoned Denmark’s Ambassador Anders Christian Hougaard to the Foreign Ministry and declared Iran’s strong protest against the EU’s illogical decision.

Denmark is currently the rotating chairman of the European Union.

Khaji called the imposition of the sanctions an irrational act without logical justification and said that certain forces inside the EU are following US policies and taking hostile actions to create tension in relations with Iran.

Underlining Iran’s nuclear programme’s peaceful nature and its extensive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA), Khaji reiterated that Iran is following policies based on justice and consolidation of international peace and stability.

He added that Iranians have repeatedly proved that they will not ignore their legitimate and legal rights under pressure or cruel acts and they will not surrender to such methods.

The Iranian senior diplomat also underlined that the EU is responsible for the consequences of such decisions and creating crises.

Hougaard said he will submit Iran’s protest to the related EU officials.

On Monday, the Petroleum Ministry said in a statement that European sanctions against Iran’s oil exports will affect world economy and hurt European and non-European countries.

“The hasty decision by the EU states to use oil as a political tool will have a negative effect on the world economy and especially on recovering European economies which are fighting to overcome the global financial crisis,” it added.

The statement said that since just 18 per cent of oil produced by Iran is exported to European countries, the Islamic Republic can easily replace new markets with the European market.

It noted that oil sanctions against Iran will raise the energy price and will affect the world economy’s growth, including the weak recovering economies that are fighting to recover from the financial crisis.

The statement added that the European oil consumers will pay the cost of the EU decision and it will destabilize oil markets and undermine the global energy security.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast also said that the European Union sanctions on Iranian oil is a psychological warfare. “Imposing economic sanctions is illogical and unfair, and will not stop our nation from obtaining its rights.”

The European Union banned imports of oil from Iran on Monday and agreed to freeze the assets of Iran’s central bank, joining the United States in a new round of measures.

The latest sanctions by the European Union will be fully enforced by July 1. The sanctions on Iran oil is fraught with risks — of rising energy prices and global financial instability.

After news of the EU move, benchmark crude for March delivery rose 90 cents on the day to USD 99.23 a barrel in early morning European time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.