Malta votes in favour of new EU restrictive measures against Iran

Malta's foreign minister Tonio Borg has pledged Malta's support to new European Union restrictive measures against Iran, shrugging off suggestions by foreign media that it was to oppose the new measures.

A spokesman for the foreign ministry said that "Malta has consistently supported the EU's dual track approach with Iran, adding that while being part of the consensus on restrictive measures, "Malta, like its fellow EU Member States would much prefer a diplomatic solution and would welcome a serious engagement by Iran that is genuinely aimed at addressing the valid concerns of the international community regarding the aims of its nuclear programme."

The spokesman said that Malta is legally obliged and politically committed to implementing all sanctions that the United Nations and European Union have put in place regarding Iran.

"Obviously, EU restrictive measures have some impact on the EU Member States, and Malta has carried a share of the costs to the European economy as have done all the Member States," he said.

He added that  "Malta, like all other EU MS, has, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sought to ensure that the burdens it must assume are justified by the sanctions effort and in such cases where they were, they were also proportional and balanced."