Sweden, Ericsson and Iran sanctions

EUObserver reports on the European Union's new Iran sanctions--and investigates whether Sweden diluted them to benefit telecommunications giant Ericsson:

Several EU diplomatic contacts told EUobserver the original proposals also contained a ban on sales of telecommunications equipment, but Sweden lobbied to drop it on "humanitarian" grounds.

"There's an Iranian minority living in Sweden and [Sweden] said it is important than they can keep in touch with their families back home ... It's normal that EU countries defend the interests of their national companies. Ericsson was never mentioned. The official reason for inclusion or non-inclusion of specific goods on a list is always 'not to hurt ordinary people'," one EU source said.

"There was a Swedish objection to this [the telecommunications ban]," another EU contact noted.

For its part, Ericsson confirmed it has contracts to ship and install mobile phone masts for three Iranian firms: MCCI, MTN IranCell and TCI.

Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has hotly denied the accusations. In Stockholm, the government called in the Israeli ambassador to complain about what it believes are leaks from the Israeli foreign ministry on the matter.