Foreign Minister Tonio Borg reiterated today that EU and UN sanctions against Iran to do not prohibit Iranian ships from entering the territorial waters of EU member states.

Business by Iranian shipping companies accounts for nearly 10% of throughput at Malta Freeport.

Speaking at a meeting with Maltese ambassadors resident abroad, Dr Borg said EU and UN sanctions called for closer scrutiny and monitoring of cargo carried on Iranian-owned ships and the freezing of financial assets of Iranian companies, including IRISIL.

The Maltese government, he said, was already giving legal force to those obligations.

A legal notice published yesterday provides that it shall be unlawful for citizens of Malta, companies registered in Malta, or vessels or aircraft using the Maltese flag, to engage in any commercial activity with Iran involving uranium mining, production or use of nuclear materials and technology as designated by the IAEA.

Any funds, other financial assets and economic resources which are in Malta and are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by Iran or persons or companies acting on its behalf shall be immediately frozen and it shall be unlawful for anyone in Malta make available any funds, financial assets or economic resources to or for the benefit of such persons

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.