Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran was defiant Tuesday after the European Union approved new sanctions against the country, saying the measures are "ineffective and unconstructive".
The sanctions are "punitive measures" and "a hostile move against Iran," said Ramin Mehman-Parast, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"These sanctions neither assist the process of negotiations, nor are able to impose any harm in the will of the Iranian nation for materializing their natural rights regarding their peaceful nuclear program," he told the state-run news agency, IRNA.
The European Union imposed new measures on Monday that restrict trade related to Iran's nuclear program and its military. The sanctions limit financial assistance and funding and allow EU members to inspect all cargo going to or from Iran.
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