EU set to re-impose sanctions against Iranian shipping companies

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In what is one of the more predictable moves in 2015, EU lawyers are to re-impose sanction on some 40 shipping companies which they claim to be controlled by Iran’s state-owned shipping line IRISL, as part of the EU’s continued actions to deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Whether the companies are controlled by IRISL or not; or even whether IRISL has anything to do with the country’s alleged nuclear proliferation programme is almost a moot point – the aim is to maintain the leverage over Iran as diplomatic relations between the west and country continue to thaw.