Iran oil embargo still on EU agenda

TEHRAN, Dec.11 (MNA) -- Many European countries are extremely dependent on Iranian oil to meet their increasing energy needs. This was actually the main reason for the divergence of stances adopted by members of the European Union in their recent meeting, where discussions were held on imposing harsh sanctions on Iran’s oil industry. However, the EU is expected to continue its efforts to create a consensus on an embargo on Iranian oil. The oil embargo is meant to pile more pressure on the country to halt the uranium enrichment component of its nuclear program. During their recent meeting, EU members tried to focus more on their points of convergence rather than the highly controversial oil embargo. But the measure will be discussed again at future meetings, and the EU’s major powers will exert more pressure on the less powerful members to stop buying Iranian oil. The United States and its European allies, most notably Britain, have redoubled their efforts to impose an embargo on Iranian oil. And the recent measures taken by the U.S. Congress will increase the pressure on European countries to follow the same path. The imposition of sanctions on a new list of 180 high-ranking Iranian officials is another step meant to increase the pressure on Iran, although it will have no impact on Iran’s nuclear program. All these measures will be futile because the efforts to hinder Iran’s peaceful nuclear program are doomed to fail. Iran is expected to step up its diplomatic efforts to prevent a consensus on an Iran oil embargo from emerging. This will be the first step on the path to alter the international attitude toward Iran and its nuclear program.