EU considering ban on imported Syrian oil

Yesterday, the European Council added fifteen Syrian nationals and five economic entities to the list of those targeted by an asset freeze and visa ban. These included the Political Security Directorate, the General Intelligence Directorate, the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Air Force Intelligence and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Council is also considering calling an embargo on EU imports of Syrian crude oil. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, said that the proposals are being prepared.

News agency NPR quoted Syria’s president Bahsar al-Assad as describing the oil ban and assets freeze as “meaningless”.