Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Russia criticized the European Union on Wednesday for imposing new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and called for a fresh round of talks between world powers and Tehran as soon as possible, Turkish newspaper Todays Zaman reported.

The sanctions, imposed by EU countries Tuesday, targeted major Iranian state companies in the oil and gas industry, and also toughened restrictions on the central bank, cranking up financial pressure on Tehran. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she hoped that turning up the heat on Iran would persuade it to make concessions and that negotiations could resume "very soon".

In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern" over the EU sanctions. Moscow said the unilateral sanctions dealt a "palpable blow" to the unity of the six nations -- the United States, France, Britain, China, Germany and Russia -- leading diplomatic efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program.

"We will continue to consistently seek to achieve the organization of the next round of negotiations ... as soon as possible," the statement said.

No talks have been held since the last round in Moscow failed to bring a breakthrough last June.

Russia has supported four rounds of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran but says further measures are counter productive.

China also criticized the EU on Tuesday for imposing the new sanctions on Iran, calling again for talks to resolve the stand-off, Reuters reported.

China is Iran's largest crude oil customer and, along with Russia, has resisted imposing sanctions on Tehran.

"We oppose the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Iran and believe that using sanctions to exert pressure cannot fundamentally resolve the Iran nuclear issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

Besides, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned the UN that humanitarian operations in Iran are being hampered because of economic sanctions.

He announced on October 5 that the Iranian people were under great pressure resulting from the sanctions.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the new, tough EU sanctions will not force Tehran back into negotiations with world powers over its nuclear program, according to Reuters.

"We think the error in calculation which these countries are pursuing will distance them from a favorable result," ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a news conference.

The West suspects Iran of using its civilian atomic energy program as a cover for ambitions to build a nuclear bomb -- accusations Tehran denies.

Iran oil firms to sue EU

The widening sanctions regime is already doing significant damage to the Iranian economy, notably due to an oil embargo imposed by the EU this year and new financial sanctions applied by the United States.

Iran's private oil firms plan to file a lawsuit against the unilateral EU sanctions which harden or bar the country's oil trade with other nations, sources revealed on Wednesday, Fars News agency reported.

The new EU sanctions against Iran affect 30 governmental and private companies as well as individuals.

"At present a number of private oil companies which are on the list of the EU's boycotted companies are busy with projects in foreign states and a large part of their income comes from abroad," an informed official told Fars News.

"Therefore, such companies are after numerous solutions to continue their activities, one of which is filing lawsuits to international courts and solving the issue through legal ways," the official said.