BRUSSELS, July 21. /ITAR-TASS/. The EU Council has extended suspended sanctions against Iran till November 24.

On November 24, 2013 Iran and the P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) signed a six-month agreement on Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. The parties said Iran had no intention to get access to nuclear technology. The agreement envisions gradual reduction of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and plutonium production in exchange for easing international sanctions.

In October 2012 the EU imposed the latest package of sanctions against Iran.

The Council prohibited all transactions between European and Iranian banks unless they are explicitly authorised by national authorities under strict conditions.

There will be a ban on short-term export credits, guarantees and insurances. Medium-and long-term commitments are already banned.

The import, purchase and transport of natural gas from Iran was also banned, mirroring the more significant embargo on oil imports which came into effect in July.

Over 150 Iranian officials and businessmen were banned to visit the EU. European businessmen were forbidden to maintain any contacts with over 30 organisations.