The United States, Canada, and Britain all announced fresh sanctions against Iran on Monday in response to strong new evidence from the United Nations that the country is forging ahead with its nuclear weapons program.
The action was triggered by a report issued on Nov. 9 by the International Atomic Energy Agency under the U.N., giving new evidence that Iran has conducted tests consistent with the development of nuclear weapons. The West had been imposing increasingly tough sanctions on Iran for years in an effort to halt the suspected weapons program. Iran has always insisted that its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes.
By executive order, U.S. President Barack Obama authorized sanctions targeting the supply of goods, services, technology, and monetary support to Iran’s petroleum resources or petrochemical industry. The industry is a “significant source of export revenues and a cover for imports for sanctioned activities,” read a joint statement issued by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner.
Eleven people or entities were also specifically named by the United States as being subject to sanctions for their role in Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program. Iran was also deemed a jurisdiction of “primary money laundering concern” under the Patriot Act.
Canada’s sanctions prohibit financial transactions with Iran. Ottawa also included on its list of prohibited goods all goods related to the petrochemical, oil, and gas industry.
“Canada will continue to work with the growing list of like-minded countries in a bid to limit the ability of Iran’s rulers to further undermine peace, prosperity and stability,” said Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird in a published statement.
The U.K. on Monday cut off its ties with all Iran-based banks because of evidence that the banks are funding the country’s nuclear research and ballistic missiles programs.
British Treasury Chancellor George Osborne said it is the first time the U.K. used such powers to sanction an entire nation’s banking sector, according to a statement from his office.
It is expected that more Western governments will follow suit in the days to come.
With additional reporting by Alex Johnston
