The US has approved new sanctions against Iranian petrochemical and banking spheres, US President Barack Obama says, Interfax reports.
The sanctions will slow down the Iranian oil and gas sector. They will affect business supporting the Iranian nuclear program and heavy water production, he said.
The new sanctions were developed with six mediators on Iran, including Russia. Some European and Asian companies will be affected by the sanctions. There have been no details on influence on any Russian companies.
The UK passed new financial sanctions. They include reduction of operations between the British and Iranian banks, including the Central Bank starting at 3 pm, RIA Novosti reports.
Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Russian Center for Socio-Political Studies, told Vestnik Kavkaza he had predicted earlier that new UN-level sanctions from the US and its allies were unlikely.
The expert said that sanctions would be justified in case of the discovery of a new nuclear facility, such as Fardu. The US, EU and their allies would expand unilateral sanctions already imposed against Iran. There would be no full-fledged embargo, he said. The expert added that the tensions around the Iranian nuclear program are a mass media and information war against the Islamic Republic.
