President Barack Obama announced new U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's oil Tuesday, warning Tehran that it faces "growing consequences" for refusing to answer international questions about its nuclear program.
The first set of sanctions announced will target the Islamic republic's energy and petrochemical industries, a move designed to "deter Iran from establishing payment mechanisms for the purchase of Iranian oil to circumvent existing sanctions," a White House statement explains.
The statement continues, "Sanctions are also authorized for those who may seek to avoid the impact of these sanctions, including against individuals and entities that provide material support to the National Iranian Oil Company, Naftiran Intertrade Company, or the Central Bank of Iran, or for the purchase or acquisition of U.S. bank notes or precious metals by the government of Iran."
The second set of sanctions will target banks, "a significant step to hold responsible institutions that knowingly enable financial transactions for designated Iranian banks," the statement said.
The Department of Treasury specifically targeted Bank of Kunlun in China and Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq. The two financial institutions are alleged to have facilitated transactions worth millions of dollars for Iranian banks that are under sanctions because of the country's nuclear proliferation activities, according to the statement.
"By cutting off these financial institutions from the United States, today’s action makes it clear that we will expose any financial institution, no matter where they are located, that allows the increasingly desperate Iranian regime to retain access to the international financial system," the statement says.
The U.S. will continue seeking a diplomatic solution, the statement says, but if Iran keeps defying the international community the U.S. and its partners will work to "impose increasing consequences."
"Since taking office, we have presented the Iranian government with a clear choice: Come in line with your international obligations and rejoin the community of nations, or face growing consequences," the statement says. "With these actions, we are once again reaffirming our commitment to hold the Iranian government accountable for its actions."
Western powers have long alleged that Iran is attempting to build nuclear weapons, while Iran has insisted that its program is solely for peaceful civilian energy purposes.
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Gas prices will go up again... here we go....
We don't buy Iranian oil
Ok... Now queue threat to block the Straight of Hormuz.... again...
Wasn't the LAST election filled with a debate about who hated Iran more? I'm sorry, Iran has never scared me. If anything I think they'd make a great ally, but apparently they have oil and they have pipelines from "our" oil in the Caspian Sea Basin to the Indian Ocean, and we don't want to pay for them, so we're going to do this song and dance again so we can invade.
So, we should just forget about the Iranian Hostage Crisis in '79 and make them an ally Seriously?
Silly Republicans war mongers, if we attack Iran I want at least one of Romney's many sons front and center in the battle field
Silly liberal coward, if we don't stop them and we are the victim of a nuclear attack on any level, I want you and your family to be the last ones treatd for radiation exposer.
At least one of Romney's five sons? How about all five of Romney's sons?
NO MENTION OF ALLOWING CHINA, INDIA AND TURKEY TO BUY IRANIAN OIL WITH GOLD?
oh, this is cnn and all.
just send mittens to Iran, let him meet the Ayatollah and BAM he will be an exact copy of the Ayatollah... mittens has no control over his Chameleonism.
With all these sanctions on Iranian banks, hopefully Mitt Robmoney's assets get frozen inadvertently.
If you want to be taken seriously don't start you comment off with LOL. That is a sure-fire sign of ignorance.
I can't tell the difference between his policy and Romney's. I'm baffled by both of them.
US can NOT be police man of world and bullying every country, who has different opinion than US. This is totally illegal and violates every international regulation. Mr. Obama as well as the GOP runner is playing with Iran to get votes and Jewish support in US. It is so disappointing that US policy is run by Israel and some people in Florida and election contributors. You do NOT know Iranian people, they will NOT accept bullying and force, regardless who is running he country in Iran. Your approach is wrong to change leadership, if that is your focus.
Regardless what leadership may have in Iran, there is NO return path and Iran will be nuclear state. You better accept it once for all and set US policy accordingly.
President Obama is just fulfilling his obligation as leader of the free world to see that UN mandate to maintain global peace and stability is enforced. And if that is wrong, then write to your congressman/woman and call on them to vote to dismantle the UN.
So everyone on the Obama side complains about the expensive wars from the Bush days, yet don't complain about the expensive failed bail outs, the expensive Obamacare, the expensive entertainment for the First family....take off the blinders. You may not have been for the wars, but try to keep in mind while you like to credit Obama with the killing of Bin Laden, we wouldn't have been there if not for 9/11 and Bush's reaction. And he didn't do crap expect so OK do it. Thank the SEALs, not Obama.
What?
@ RuSerious
President Obama is the GRESTEST President in US history! Eat your heart out confederate.
Next thing we will be hearing about are sightings of mysterious aluminium tubes. Stay tuned.
No, those aluminium tubes are now at Crawford Ranch.
Just love how Republicans are so ready to goto war. Not like it is your kids who have to go over there and actually fight the war.
I am sure there will be another sanction against Iran just a day before Florida Jewish voting for presidential election. Lets play.
And what part of the Jewis vote was the killing of OBL or Awalaki for rightwing moron?
Iran's leaders couldn't care less. They are too macho to be reasonable. Plus they LOVE the attention.