The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Tehran

Iran said on Tuesday that new sanctions imposed on it by the European Union could hurt diplomatic efforts to resolve a long-running row over Tehran's disputed nuclear ambitions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini condemned the latest sanctions, agreed by the 27-nation bloc on Monday, as "illegal" and suggested they would only serve to strengthen Iran's determination to pursue nuclear technology. Western powers suspect Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, wants to make nuclear arms but Tehran denies this.

The EU sanctions target businesses and individuals the West alleges are linked to Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs. The measures include an asset freeze on Iran's biggest state bank, Bank Melli, after its refusal to curb its atomic work.

The EU move also slaps visa bans on senior nuclear and military officials, including the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, and blocks the assets of companies including Iran Electronic Industries.