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Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012 9:30 AM UTC

Iran: New EU sanctions ‘inhuman’ and ineffective

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Iran: New EU sanctions 'inhuman' and ineffectiveFrom left, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, British Foreign Minister William Hague and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle share a word during a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on Monday Oct. 15, 2012. Britain, Germany and France say they expect the European Union to approve even tougher sanctions on Iran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)(Credit: AP)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran is describing the new European Union sanctions as “inhuman” and says they will not force any retreat on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Tuesday’s remarks by Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast amplify Iran’s insistence that it can ride out Western economic pressures aimed at reining in uranium enrichment.

The 27-nation on bloc Monday banned imports of Iranian natural gas and imposed other restrictions on trade and financial dealings. Previous Western sanctions have targeted Iran’s critical oil exports and access to international banking networks.

Mehmanparast says the new EU measures will not bring any rollback from Iran on its ability to make nuclear fuel. He called the sanctions “illegal, unwise and inhuman.”

The West fears Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

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