A new European Union oil embargo on Iran goes into effect today, further tightening the screws on an economy and populace that has suffered from years of sanctions led by the United States and Europe.

The West hopes that the deepest sanctions on Iran to date force the country to make concessions on its nuclear energy program, which they believe is aimed at preparing the country for building a weapon.

Many Iranians believe they are being unfairly targeted by the West, which will find any excuse to constrain the country's power. Whether the new sanctions are having any effect may be evident next week, when major powers and Iran resume talks in Turkey.

Tarek Bazley reports.