Iran may sue over latest EU sanctions

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TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- An Iranian official said Tuesday that tighter sanctions imposed by the European Union were considered violations of human rights law.

The European Union announced Monday it put a ban on imports of natural gas from Iran to address lingering concerns about the Iranian nuclear program. Additional measures targeted the Central Bank of Iran as well as oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

Iranian Vice President for Legal Affairs Fatemeh Bodaqi said Tehran was considering a legal challenge to the latest sanctions.

"There is no doubt that the sanctions against all Iranian citizens set a clear example of the violation of human rights, as sanctions are against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights documents," she told the semiofficial Fars News Agency.

She said it was necessary to challenge the sanctions in an international court, but stressed the country's foreign ministry was responsible for taking action.

The EU, in its announcement, said the purpose of the sanctions is to encourage the Iranian government to address nuclear concerns.

"The sanctions are not aimed at the Iranian people," the announcement read.