EU slaps sanctions on 180 Iranian people, companies

The sanctions have been imposed over Tehrans refusal to meet international demands to halt alleged sensitive nuclear work.The ministers also agreed to continue working on extra punitive measures that could target Irans vital energy sector, a diplomat told AFP.EU countries are split over targeting the oil sector as well as over calls by some, including Britain, to agree an assets freeze on Irans central bank.Joining the foreign ministers talks, British Foreign Secretary William Hague earlier said he hoped the new EU sanctions would strike at Tehrans financial heart.I hope we will agree today additional measures that will be an intensification of the economic pressure on Iran, peaceful legitimate economic pressure particularly to increase the isolation of the Iranian financial sector, Hague said.German counterpart Guido Westerwelle too opined for sanctions to dry up Irans financial sources.The new sanctions, decided amid indignation across Europe over the Tuesday storming of Britains embassy in Tehran, follow the publication of a new report on Irans contested nuclear activity.The EU has already frozen the assets of hundreds of Iranian firms and in July last year adopted measures aimed at preventing new investment, technical assistance and technology transfers, particularly those pertaining to producing and refining gas.