EU nations agree on need for more sanctions

LUXEMBOURG (AP) — European Union nations agreed Monday on the need for a new round of sanctions to discourage Iran from developing nuclear weapons, targeting the country’s oil and gas sectors in what would be the strongest punishment yet.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced earlier Monday at a London news conference with President Bush that Britain will freeze the assets of Iran’s largest bank, Bank Melli, and that the EU would target Iran’s oil and gas sectors.

“Action will start today in a new phase of sanctions on oil and gas,” Brown said. “We will take any necessary action so that Iran is aware of the choice it needs to make.”

Brown said Britain was urging the EU — and that Europe “will agree” — to also impose the new sanctions because of Iran’s refusal to halt the uranium enrichment that could be used for nuclear weaponry.