The US Congress has passed a new package of sanctions against Iran. The Senate will consider them before next week. Sanctions will affect companies involved in Iranian uranium exports, providing Iran with oil tankers, insuring the state company National Iranian Tanker, companies cooperating in the fuel and petroleum industry of Iran and its infrastructure, and those providing equipment to silence radio and TV signals, RIA Novosti reports.
Ileana Ros-Letinen, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that the sanctions would be a great pressure on Iran and improve US security.
Congress passed other sanctions in early 2012, authorizing the administration to pass unilateral sanctions against foreign institutions and companies making deals with Iran.
The US administration extended sanctions against energy and financial companies working with Iran. US President Barack Obama said that all companies collaborating with the National Iranian Oil Company, Naftiran Intertrade and the Iranian Central Bank would be affected. The president passed sanctions against such banks as Kunlun in China and Elaf Islamic in Iraq on Tuesday.
The US, Israel and a set of other Western states accuse Iran of developing nuclear arms on the background of the peaceful atom. Tehran denies all the accusations and insists that its nuclear program is intended to fulfil demand for electricity.
