The Swiss government has partially copied EU's sanctions against Iran by having extended financial sanctions against this country but not freezing the assets of  its central bank and imposing an oil embargo.

Extending its previously financial sanctions, Switzerland has frozen the assets of eight companies and three individuals on Tuesday.

The Federal Council took the decision at a meeting on April 4, before world powers (P5+1 group) met Tehran negotiators for talks in Istanbul at the weekend on Iran's nuclear program.

The action brings Switzerland largely “in line with the restrictive measures” voted by the European Union in January, Washington Post quoted the Swiss Cabinet as saying.

Swiss Economics Ministry, which is involved in sanctions policy, said in the statement that the country would not follow the EU in freezing the assets of the Iranian central bank "due to its importance for the Iranian economy".

The ministry also stated that "the Federal Council will decide at a later date whether or not to ban imports of Iranian oil."

The EU has gradually tightened financial restrictions on Iran and on Jan. 23 agreed to phase in an oil embargo and to freeze the assets of Iran's central bank in an effort to raise pressure on Tehran over its disputed nuclear program Tehran says it is for purely civilian purposes but the West suspects it is aimed at making weapons.

Sources: Reuters, RT