01/08/2012 10:31
US imposes new sanctions on Iran
US President Barack Obama has ordered new economic sanctions against Iran's energy sector and some financial firms, BBC reported.
President Obama's executive order is designed to make it harder for Iran to evade existing sanctions.
Mr Obama said the US remained committed to reaching a diplomatic solution on Iran, but the onus was on Tehran to meet its international obligations.
The sanctions come amid ongoing concern over Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran denies is to develop weapons.
Tehran has been attempting to diversify the way it gets paid for oil sales, including by using gold and barter, says the BBC's correspondent in Washington.
Mr Obama's order comes just as the US Congress prepares to vote this week on new legislation imposing even stricter sanctions on Iran.
The executive order appears to be an effort by the White House to show it is being just as tough on Iran, the BBC’s correspondent adds.
The Republican candidate to the White House Mitt Romney said recently that the Obama administration was not doing enough to stop Iran's nuclear programme.