WASHINGTON -- The United States has enacted tough new sanctions to further squeeze Iran's access to oil revenues and punish entities linked to alleged government censorship.
A U.S. Treasury Department statement says the move expands the scope of sanctionable transactions with the Central Bank of Iran and other financial institutions by restricting Tehran's ability to use oil revenue held in foreign financial institutions and preventing repatriation of those funds.
Iran uses its oil money to fund its nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at achieving weapons capability.
Iran denies this.
The Treasury also froze the funds of and prohibited U.S. transactions with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and its director, Ezzatollah Zarghami; Iran's cyberpolice; its Communications Regulatory Authority; and Iran Electronics Industries -- all of whom allegedly facilitate the government's censorship activities.
A U.S. Treasury Department statement says the move expands the scope of sanctionable transactions with the Central Bank of Iran and other financial institutions by restricting Tehran's ability to use oil revenue held in foreign financial institutions and preventing repatriation of those funds.
Iran uses its oil money to fund its nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at achieving weapons capability.
Iran denies this.
The Treasury also froze the funds of and prohibited U.S. transactions with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and its director, Ezzatollah Zarghami; Iran's cyberpolice; its Communications Regulatory Authority; and Iran Electronics Industries -- all of whom allegedly facilitate the government's censorship activities.
