Comprehensive Talks With Europe Suspended

A senior diplomat said Iran is considering countermeasures in response to new bans imposed on several Iranian individuals and entities by the European Union while suspending comprehensive talks with the bloc, which are separate from the ongoing nuclear talks.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh made the remarks on Monday after the European Union announced it has imposed sanctions ranging from travel bans to asset freezes on eight Iranian individuals, including the commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Hossein Salami, on baseless human rights grounds, ISNA reported.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is considering reciprocal sanctions in reaction to the EU’s measure, whose details will be announced later,” the spokesman said. “Iran strongly condemns this measure and considers it as lacking any credibility.”
“Without a doubt, such measures have no value as they have been taken by the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights, who have remained silent on the basis of political motives and only expressed regret in the face of the violation of Iranian people’s rights under inhumane and illegal US sanctions,” Khatibzadeh said.
“In reaction to this EU measure, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has suspended all comprehensive talks with the EU, including human rights discussions, as well as all forms of cooperation emanating from those talks, especially in the fields of terrorism, illicit drugs and refugees.”