EU ready to impose ban on Iran oil imports

Protecting Europe's economy, they agreed to delay full implementation of the oil embargo until July 1, an EU diplomat said.

The embargo has yet to be formally approved by foreign ministers of the EU's 27 member states, who will be meeting in Brussels on Monday. Sanctions against the central bank of Iran are also expected to be approved by ministers, although they may provide a list of specific exemptions to the restrictions.

Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, said she hoped financial sanctions would persuade Tehran to return to negotiations with Western powers , which she represents in talks with Iran. Tehran has denied that its nuclear programme is aimed at developing weapons, saying it is for peaceful purposes.

According to Reuters she said "I want the pressure of these sanctions to result in negotiations," before the ministers' meeting.

"I want to see Iran come back to the table and either pick up all the ideas that we left on the table ... last year ... or to come forward with its own ideas," she said.

Tehran has said its nuclear programme aims to meet its rising energy needs. However, the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency said last year it had evidence that suggested Iran had worked on designing a nuclear weapon.

The European Union is Iran's second-largest oil customer, after China. Ministers are expected to agree to exemptions that will allow trade in other products, allowed under EU rules, to continue.

"The United Kingdom is looking for an unprecedented package of sanctions," said its foreign minister, William Hague, "including a phased oil embargo, including measures on the central bank of Iran, other financial measures, new measures on the use of dual-use technology that may be included in the nuclear programme."