William hague at the foreign affairs council on 1st december 2011. (c) the council of the european union
At a meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union on Thursday 1st December, it was agreed that the EU would deepen sanctions against Iran and Syria. Further individuals and entities linked to both governments have had their assets frozen. New curbs have been placed on European companies doing business in Syria and on the export of software used to monitor internet usage.
Upon arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council, the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, described the Iranian protesters’ entry into the UK embassy in Tehran as “terrible”.
In This Story: Iran
Iran, also called Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. Its central location in Eurasia and proximity to the Strait of Hormuz give it significant geostrategic importance. Tehran is the capital and largest city.
Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, beginning with the formation of the Elamite kingdoms in the fourth millennium BC. The Iranian Revolution established the current Islamic Republic in 1979.
Iran’s political system combines elements of a presidential democracy and an Islamic theocracy. Iran is a founding member of the UN, ECO, OIC, and OPEC. It is a major regional and middle power and has large reserves of fossil fuels — including the world’s largest natural gas supply and the third largest proven oil reserves.
The country’s rich cultural legacy is reflected in part by its 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Historically a multi-ethnic country, Iran remains a pluralistic society comprising numerous ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups, the largest being Persians, Azeris, Kurds, Mazandaranis and Lurs.
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
