EU freezes Iranian banks’ assets

The European Union has partially reinstated sanctions against Iran, including the freezing of assets belonging to the Central Bank and the country’s largest commercial lenders, the EU Council said.

The decision followed an initiative by Britain, Germany and France — the so-called “E3” — which last week pushed through the restoration of UN Security Council sanctions on Tehran.

The measures include a ban on arms exports to Iran, restrictions on the transfer of nuclear-related goods and technologies, and a prohibition on supplying energy sector equipment, gold and other precious metals.

The snapback mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) was triggered over Iran’s breaches of the accord. Russia and China remain guarantors of the agreement, while the United States withdrew in 2018.

Tehran vowed a “resolute response” to the EU and E3 actions.