The European Union's 27 foreign ministers approved new sanctions against Iran's nuclear development program on Monday. The ministers called on the Tehran government to renew talks about the program.

The new sanctions include restrictions in the energy field, ban investments in the Islamic Republic and aid to its natural gas and oil refinery industry. Iranian air and sea cargo companies are banned from working in Europe, and the number of Iranian banks barred from entering Europe was increased, as was the number of Iranian banks whose assets were frozen. The sanctions are scheduled to take effect in a few weeks.