The European Union on Friday brought into force the latest round of UN sanctions on Iran in the dispute over its nuclear programme, dpa reported.
An announcement published in the EU's official journal ordered the bloc's 27 member states not to enter into new commitments for grants, financial assistance and concessional loans to the Iranian government, but to continuously monitor the dealings of their own banks with Iranian institutions, especially Bank Saderat.
It also mandated member states to inspect cargoes carried by Iran Air Cargo and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line, as long as there are "reasonable grounds" for suspecting that they are carrying nuclear-related cargoes.
The EU's move brings into legal force measures introduced by the UN Security Council on March 3.