European stocks opened lower Tuesday after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran over the shooting down of an unmanned American drone last week.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 dropped 0.3% at the opening bell, auto stocks leading declines with a 1% fall in the early minutes of trade, while technology was the only sector to enter positive territory, climbing 0.7%.

In corporate news, Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa said Tuesday that the carmaker will postpone talks with French partner Renault on deepening their alliance, instead focusing on its own recovery.

Source: CNBC