EU to decide on fresh sanctions against Iran

European Union foreign ministers began a meeting in Luxembourg Monday with the focus on developments in Syria, Iran and Mali. "Today we expect to agree fresh sanctions on Iran as a result of its nuclear program and continued failure to satisfy the world that that program is for peaceful purposes," British foreign secretary William Hague told journalists as he arrived for the meeting. "This is the sign of our resolve in the EU that we will step up the pressure unless negotiations succeed," he said. On her part, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said "we are looking today at additional measures on Iran during the course of our meeting." "We want to see a negotiated settlement but we will continue to keep up the pressure on Iran," she said adding that the sanctions are having an effect. Ashton said EU foreign ministers "had an extremely good dinner last night "with Russian foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov in Luxembourg to discuss bilateral ties and foreign policy issues. But Hague said they did not make "any progress" in talks with Lavrov. The British foreign secretary called on Syria to avoid incidents at the border with Turkey. "It is Syrian fire over the border that has created such tensions. Turkey I believe has responded appropriately to that," he added. Ashton announced that she will be travelling next week to Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories.