EU countries withdraw their ambassadors from Iran

Europe ramped up pressure on Iran Thursday, with the European Union agreeing on new sanctions and Italy withdrawing its ambassador from Tehran after protesters attacked the British Embassy there earlier this week, the CNN reports.

The Italian envoy was "recalled for consultations," the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the decision was "coordinated with the other countries at the EU meeting in Brussels."

France, Germany and the Netherlands said Wednesday they were also pulling their envoys out of Tehran, the source reports.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday agreed on new sanctions that apply to 143 entities and 37 individuals, said Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

The ministers also agreed to continue working on extra punitive measures that could target Iran's financial, transport and energy sectors, Kocijancic said.