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Seeking to step up pressure to
force Iran to stop seeking nuclear weapons, U.S. President Barack
Obama authorized on Monday to impose new sanctions targeting
the Islamic republic's energy sector for the first time, saying
the nation has chosen the path of "international isolation."
Obama signed an executive order authorizing sanctions on
individuals who knowingly help Iran in its development of
petroleum resources and the production of petrochemical products.
"New sanctions target for the first time Iran's petrochemical
sector, prohibiting the provision of goods, services and technology
to this sector and authorizing penalties against any person
or entity that engages in such activity," he said in
a statement, noting the moves "expand energy sanctions,
making it more difficult for Iran to operate, maintain and
modernize its oil and gas sector."
"As long as Iran continues down this dangerous path,
the United States will continue to find ways, both in concert
with our partners and through our own actions to isolate and
increase the pressure upon the Iranian regime," he added.
In addition, the United States warned of the threats to governments
or financial institutions that do business with Iranian banks,
but stopped short of imposing sanctions on the banking sector
in the Islamic republic.
Obama said it is the first time that the U.S. has ever identified
the entire Iranian banking sector as a threat.
The UN Security Council imposed four rounds of sanctions
on Iran, a major oil producer, between 2006 and 2010 as the
country refused to halt its nuclear enrichment program, which
Western countries suspect could be used to develop fuel for
nuclear bombs.
In addition to the UN sanctions that commit all its member
states, the United States and European Union have imposed
extra sanctions of their own. However, Iran's oil sector had
remained the key sector spared from the draconian measures
over the years.
The new U.S. moves came in response to a report released
on Nov. 8 by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which
outlined alleged activities pointing to clandestine nuclear
bombs making by Iran.
Besides, U.S. authorities alleged last month that Iran was
behind a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
Britain said early Monday that it was cutting links with
Iran's banks, and Canada was expected to move in a coordinated
manner
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