"EU sanctions on Iran is a psychological war"

Sanctions against Iran can be described as a psychological war, Islamic Republic of Iran's ambassador to Austria Ibrahim Sheibani said, IRNA reported. Sheibani added that Central Bank of Iran does not have any assets in Austria. On Jan. 23 EU foreign ministers agreed on Iranian oil embargo, preventing EU countries from buying oil from Iran in six months. When current oil contracts for Iran's oil expire, about 27 countries that make up the EU can not sign new ones. The new sanctions will also freeze some of the Iranian Central Bank's assets. Sheibani pointed out that one of the sanctions imposed against Iran has been described as avoiding export of gold ingots to Iran, while EU has had no export of gold to Iran throughout past five to six years. Sheibani, former head of Central Bank of Iran, further recalled that the Iranian government did not buy even an ounce of diamond from EU over past 32 years to be facing sanctions in this regard now. "Iran has not purchased banknotes from EU since three years ago, but EU has mentioned a ban on sale of banknote by EU to Iran which again shows that EU is staging a psychological war against IR Iran," he added. Edited by: S. Isayev