A group of 25 countries have told Iceland they object to its resumption of commercial whale hunting, flouting an international ban.

The European Union condemned Reykjavik’s decision in October to resume commercial whale hunts for the first time in two decades.

Political heavyweights Germany, Britain, Italy
and the United States are part of the reinforced initiative.

Land-locked Luxembourg, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also signed on, France said.

Iceland says that its hunts are legal under international law.

Norway promotes commercial whaling. Japan allows it but says it is for research purposes.

The International Whaling Commission called a moratorium in 1986.

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