EU lifts sanctions against Iran’s leading oil tanker firmOctober 8, 2014 - 14:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union sanctions against Iran’s leading oil tanker firm were dissolved on Tuesday, Oct 7, — at least temporarily — after the union failed to appeal a court ruling which annulled them, The Times of Israel reported. The sanctions, imposed in 2012, prevented any dealings between the EU and the National Iranian Tanker Company, but the NITC argued in a Luxembourg court that it was privately owned and not tied to the Iranian government, and thus should be exempt from punitive measures. The court accepted this position in July, giving officials two months to appeal its ruling — something they did not do, the report says. “We are relieved to see the lifting of these sanctions,” NITC’s managing director Ali Akbar Safaei said. “We have always enjoyed good business relationships with our EU partners and look forward to resuming those now this difficult period has come to an end.” But an EU official said efforts were still being made to reverse the decision. “The time for appeal had elapsed, but work is still ongoing on remedial action for maintaining the entity on the list” of sanctioned companies, the official said. However, as Reuters reports, the company still remains on the U.S. government's sanctions list. Shipping and insurance officials have said this will mean the company will still struggle to secure international insurance cover given the restrictions. Banks and other service providers will also be unlikely to risk any exposure which could threaten access to bigger U.S. markets. Inspectors from the UN’s atomic watchdog met Iranian officials in Tehran Tuesday over efforts to gain access to nuclear facilities, a day after reports emerged of a deadly blast at a suspected nuclear site. An International Atomic Energy Agency delegation, headed by deputy director general and head of the department of safeguards Tero Tapio Varjoranta, was to hold fresh talks with Iranian officials to discuss oversight measures of Iran’s nuclear program, widely believed to be for weaponization purposes. Diplomats said last week that inspectors will continue to lobby for greater access to suspected nuclear facilities. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |