The Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — European Union nations have approved new sanctions against Iran, including an assets freeze of the country's biggest bank.

EU officials say Iran's Bank Melli has been blacklisted by the decision, which was formally adopted without debate at EU talks in Luxembourg on Monday.

Western officials have accused Bank Melli of providing services to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The United States placed the bank on its blacklist last year.

The sanctions also include a travel ban on high-level experts dealing with Iran's nuclear program.

Iran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons, saying its program is geared toward generating electricity.

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