U.S., Britain: New Sanctions on Iran

The U.S. announced Monday that it was implementing tougher sanctions on Iran, a day after a U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency report expressed renewed concerns over “the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the new sanctions also target Iran’s oil and gas business, which has caused the U.S. to name Iran a “primary money-laundering concern.” Clinton said the sanctions will be carried out in tandem with Britain and Canada in an effort to keep a closer watch on Iran’s “sources of income and its illegal activities.” After the U.N. report was released, Britain cut all financial ties with Iran; Canada’s sanctions will also prohibit nearly all financial transactions with Iran’s government. The European Union already has specific sanctions in place, but European diplomats said they will likely follow the U.S. in imposing even tougher sanctions. In response to the new sanctions, Iran says that its nuclear program is peaceful and that the U.N.’s report is “politically motivated.”