Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassador of Portugal, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, in protest at the recent sanctions that the EU has imposed on several Iranian individuals.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Carlos Costa Neves on Tuesday and expressed the country's strong protest at the EU’s illegal action to the Portuguese ambassador.
The ministry censured the sanctions as “politically motivated” and said Tehran was considering counter-sanctions against the bloc.
“We will suspend, as we have already announced, all-comprehensive talks with the European Union and subsequent cooperation, especially in the fields of terrorism, illicit drugs and refugees,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry added.
The Portuguese ambassador, for his part, said that he would convey the matter to Brussels.
The EU added eight Iranian officials and three entities to its sanctions blacklist on Monday and imposed restrictive measures ranging from travel bans to asset freezes on them over alleged violation of human rights, Press TV reported.